Manchester City defender Vitor Reis has reported back for pre-season with a very different outlook from the one he had 12 months ago.
After spending last season on loan at Girona, where he established himself as one of the club’s standout performers, the Brazilian is now expected to be part of Enzo Maresca’s first-team plans.
When Vitor Reis first arrived at the Etihad after his €37m (£31.5m) move from Palmeiras in January 2025, Pep Guardiola quickly made it clear regular football would be more beneficial than remaining on the fringes of the first team.
That led to a season-long loan at Girona, a decision that has transformed his standing within the club.
The 20-year-old returned to England on Monday and, speaking to ESPN Brazil before travelling, admitted he is eager to begin working under Manchester City’s new head coach.
“Maresca is a great coach with a lot of football knowledge. My expectations of working with him are very high.”
Learning from Ruben Dias and Haaland
Although Vitor Reis made only four senior appearances before leaving on loan, he believes his first months at Manchester City proved invaluable.
“City have a great squad and excellent players. I learned a lot during my first spell there, especially from Ruben Dias, who encourages me a lot, and from Haaland himself, who is one of the best strikers in world football.”
Training every day against Erling Haaland has also given Vitor Reis an education few young centre-backs receive.
The Norwegian remains one of the game’s most demanding forwards, and the Brazilian believes those sessions helped accelerate his development even before his move to Girona.
Girona loan accelerated his development
Vitor Reis is equally clear about the impact of spending a full season in La Liga.
“It helped me a lot because I was able to play regularly in a very strong and competitive league. Playing consistently makes a huge difference, and I felt I improved a lot during the season at Girona.”
The Brazilian became one of Girona’s defensive leaders, making 38 appearances in all competitions while contributing one goal and one assist.
He finished the campaign as the Brazilian with the most minutes played in La Liga, performances that earned him his first senior Brazil call-up before Carlo Ancelotti also included him in his preliminary World Cup squad. In the end he did not make it to the final list.
He believes facing elite opponents every week pushed him to another level.
“Facing great players such as Vinicius Junior, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham demands maximum concentration.”
Vitor Reis also explained the biggest difference he noticed between Spanish and English football.
“The Premier League demands more strength and intensity, while La Liga focuses more on technique and tactics. They are competitions with different styles, but without doubt they are among the strongest leagues in the world.”
Those comments also fit with the work he has been doing away from the pitch. Brazilian reports over recent weeks detailed how the defender has followed an individual programme focused on strength, recovery, nutrition and conditioning during the summer to ensure he returns physically prepared for the demands of Premier League football.
Ready to seize his opportunity
Twelve months ago, Vitor Reis arrived at Manchester City knowing he would need patience.
Now he returns after a full season as a regular in one of Europe’s strongest leagues, with senior international recognition and a much clearer pathway into the first-team picture under Maresca.
Manchester City’s defensive options have changed since his departure, creating more opportunities for rotation, while the Brazilian arrives with far more experience than when he first walked through the doors at the Etihad.
The education provided by Ruben Dias and Haaland, combined with a year of regular football against some of Europe’s finest attackers, has left him convinced he is ready for the challenge awaiting him in Manchester.