U.S. national team star Christian Pulisic may not be in the November camp as Gio Reyna makes his return to the group, but the AC Milan star certainly has Reyna’s back.
Pulisic said Reyna has been mistreated and sympathizes with the 23-year-old’s battle with injuries over the last four years.
“He’s had a really tough time, unfairly in a lot of ways,” Pulisic told CBS Sports Golazo Network. “I feel for him. It’s difficult what we go through. Some of the injuries he’s gone through, it’s really hard.”
Reyna exploded as one of Europe’s biggest teenage talents with Borussia Dortmund and the USMNT in the lead up to the 2022 World Cup, but controversy and injury have dimmed his light since.
Reyna was in the middle of a dispute between former U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter and his parents, Claudio and Danielle Reyna. The Reynas, frustrated by Gio’s lack of playing time at the World Cup, revealed to U.S. Soccer a decades-old domestic violence incident involving Berhalter and his wife. The revelation led to an investigation, a public saga and the breakdown of the relationship between the two families.
There was a time during the 2022 World Cup when Reyna was nearly sent home from camp for his attitude.
On the field, things haven’t been much smoother for Reyna. He has failed to feature more than 610 minutes in a single league season since 2020-21. After falling out of favor in Dortmund, Reyna went on loan to Nottingham Forest, where his playing outlook didn’t much improve. He was even left off the match-day roster entirely a handful of times.
This summer, Reyna moved from Dortmund to Borussia Mönchengladbach. He has started just one game, but has appeared in six. He ramped up his fitness before his debut and then was sidelined briefly with a thigh injury.
However, Pulisic is still supporting his teammate.
Gio Reyna hopes his move to Borussia Mönchengladbach can lift his fortunes. (Lars Baron / Getty Images)
“When I have him on the field with me on the national team, I feel a lot more relaxed,” Pulisic said. “He’s a really, really good player — that’s not a crazy take, a lot of people see that. I just tell him to stay patient. He’s a guy that’s gone through a bit of a tough time, he’ll admit that, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have really good things ahead.”
The November camp is the first time Reyna has been involved with the national team since Berhalter selected him for the 2024 Copa America.
“I do think it’s been unfair, but I think he’s going to come around and people are going to see that soon,” Pulisic said.
As for Pulisic, he is missing camp after just recovering from a hamstring injury sustained on international duty in October. He missed four games for AC Milan and returned from the bench last weekend.
“I just want to make sure I have the time now to fully care for myself, to make sure my hamstring is doing well and allow other guys to take my place,” Pulisic said. “It’s just the best decision for everyone right now.”
Pulisic was absent from the USMNT over the summer after asking head coach Mauricio Pochettino not to be selected for the Gold Cup. He got some time off before returning to Milan for preseason.
The USMNT faces Paraguay on Sunday in Chester, Pa., and Uruguay on Tuesday in Tampa and won’t be together again until the March international break.