Gio 🇩🇪 Targeting January Transfer; LDLT's 🇪🇸 Backheel Banger

“The point with Gio Reyna is very clear, the player needs to play. The player needs to be on the pitch, he can't continue to be on the bench, so it's really important to find the best solution for him.”

—Fabrizio Romano on Gio Reyna’s future, from the “Here We Go” podcast. Listen Here.

Gio Targeting January Move:

He’s done with Dortmund. Like a football fan searching for a dodgy lower-league stream online, mans has grown tired of all the Gio Blocking in Germany. (Tut mir Leid, tut mir nicht leid.)

Gio Reyna wants to leave Dortmund. And according to this ESPN report, he doesn’t want to wait until the summer to do so. He wants out in the January window, going so far as to sign with super agent Jorge Mendes to make a move happen.

The list of clubs he’s been linked with is already a long and impressive one. Marseille, Monaco, Lyon, Real Sociedad, Sevilla, Villarreal, Benfica, Wolves, Forest … Scattershot, for sure. But it’s hard to look at any one of those teams and think that they wouldn’t be a better fit for a player who’s seen just 320 minutes of action in all competitions this season for Dortmund.

The reality is that Reyna has kept a very low media profile since the 2022 World Cup, so we do not know what is going on inside of his head. But we have watched him in happier times, and when things are clicking for him, he’s a player who is able to dominate a game. Here’s to hoping he’ll find an opportunity that allows him to get back to being that player week in and week out.

🚨 THIS JUST IN! 🚨:

Luca de la Torrre, take a bow. “Luke of the Tower” scored a ridiculous backheel mule-kick worldie (MUST WATCH) in Celta Vigo’s 3-1 Copa del Rey win at Valencia on Wednesday. He also had an assist (WATCH) in the victory. Copa de la Torre. 🐙💥

Italy:

Christian Pulisic, take a bow. You have gone from inevitable to historic.

CP11 was voted the Serie A Player of the Month for December, becoming the first American to ever accomplish the feat. (Alexi Lalas could never. 😉) After receiving his award pre-kickoff, Puli and his Milan teammates dismantled Roma, 3-1, a victory so thorough it ultimately led to Jose Mourinho’s sacking. Hershey Jesus pocketed some souls along the way.

Later in the week, The Athletic ran a great interview with Pulisic, in which he opened up about everything from his opportunity to inspire a new generation of American soccer players, to whether he sees himself playing in MLS someday.

“Obviously, I’m not an old player. I hopefully have some great years in Europe ahead of me,” said Pulisic. “I’m loving my time here, so of course MLS is not in my head at the moment. But, yeah. At the end of my career? Absolutely.”

The Milan winger also talked about his Rossoneri and USMNT teammate Yunus Musah.

“He’s an incredible kid,” said Pulisic. “I love playing with him in the national team. It’s great now to see him day-to-day. If I don’t understand something, he’s there to help me out. He’s teaching me a bit of everything. Mostly the footballing stuff I need to know.”

Footballing stuff like how exactly it’s possible to go on a mazy run through almost half of the Roma defense, before putting a low shot off the post (WATCH). Would have been an all-time goal by Musah had that one gone in.

More Postcards From Italy:

With two assists, Weston McKennie was Pirlo-esque in Juventus’ 4-0 Coppa Italia win over Frosinone on Thursday (WATCH: 1ST | 2ND). And on the wing, Tim Weah was positively problematic for the visitors in the win as well. Then later in the week, McKennie signed some shirts for young Juve fans after training.

One tier down in Serie B, Gianluca Busio scored a vital, scrappy goal for Venezia (WATCH) in their 5-3 win over Sampdoria, while Andrija Novakovich scored a bullet header for Lecco (WATCH) in their 5-3 loss at Catanzaro. And don’t look now, but another American forward is set to join the ranks of Americans in Italy, as Niko Gioacchini is going to sign with Como 1907 from MLS’ St. Louis FC. Como is in third place in Serie B, trailing Venezia on goal difference only. Would truly be something were both sides to go up to Serie A next season.

Domestic Cup Success for USWNT’ers Abroad:

Mia Fishel scored her second goal of the season for Chelsea in the Blues’ 3-1 FA Cup win over West Ham on Sunday, a lovely turn and blast, followed by her excellent “fish” cele (WATCH) … Emily Fox made her first start for Arsenal in their 5-1 FA Cup win over Watford on Sunday, less than a week after signing with the Gunners. The 25-year-old from Ashburn, Va. already has her own song, and shared a lovely moment with coach and teammates after the victory (WATCH). Fox also had this to say about her debut: “The girls, the staff, everyone’s been so welcoming and really helpful [after] coming from a different country, so I’m really thankful for that, and same with the fans. I feel like with my first game, it felt really good with lots of encouragement and support, and that’s all you can ask for.” … Lindsey Horan had a goal and an assist in Lyon’s 4-0 French Cup win over Montpellier on Sunday, and was the star of the dressing room celebrations afterwards.

News and Notes:

• Sergiño Dest, Malik Tillman, and Ricardo Pepi all played their parts in PSV’s 17th straight win to open the season, a 3-1 victory over Excelsior on Saturday. Dest was the standout PSV-USA’er of the match, with an assist (WATCH), and some wizard filth that wouldn’t be out of place on an AND1 mixtape (WATCH). For PSV, their next league win would break their own Eredivisie record for most victories to start a season.

• Dest also talked to Voetbal International about his loan at PSV, as well as his future with parent club Barcelona. 🗣“I have my full focus at PSV at the moment. And at the end of the season we will look further. Maybe I'll stay, maybe I'll go. Malik [Tillman] is in a similar situation with PSV and Bayern, but fortunately we don't have to resolve it yet … (A return to Barcelona will happen) only if the situation changes there. Xavi is still there now. So at the moment no, that will be too difficult." 🤔

• Jordan Pefok also found his way back in the goals, with this great reflex follow-up against Stuttgart on Sunday (WATCH). Gladbach went on to win, 3-1.

• After scoring three goals in his first five games, Folarin Balogun has scored just once in his last 11 at Monaco. Luckily it seems that manager Adi Hutter still thinks he has a bright future on the French Riviera: “He has to adapt. He’s a young player with whom I have spoken a lot. In a career, you’re not always at your best, so we have to accept this. Everyone can see he can do better. I am happy with him. He’s a very professional player. He does everything in possession. This is football sometimes.”

• While Balo’s a bit fallow, Emmanuel Sabbi scored for Le Havre in their 3-1 win over Lyon on Sunday (WATCH). The goal was his third in his last four Ligue 1 matches. 📈

• West Brom boss talks about how he plans to utilize Dike with Baggies.

• Hammers, Trees, or Bees for CCV? According to reports out of Scotland, Cameron Carter-Vickers is being pursued by West Ham, Nottingham Forest, and Brentford.

• A USMNT goalkeeper at Forest may be on his way out … Hull City are reportedly considering a move for Ethan Horvath.

• Zack Steffen spoke with the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jonathan Tannenwald about why he decided to make a return to MLS.

• Who knew our men’s coach was a football hipster at heart? Gregg Berhalter cast his vote for Rodri over Haaland and Messi in the FIFA Best Player of the Year voting.

• Massive congrats to former D.C. United defender Donovan Pines, on signing with League One side Barnsley in England. 🙌

Parting Shots:

With his cowboy boots and throwback facial hair, this last one sort of feels like a soccer novel written by Cormac McCarthy. But here’s to Cade Cowell for going South of the Border, and completing a historic move from San Jose Earthquakes to Chivas Guadalajara. The $4 Million move isn’t just a lucrative one, but it makes Cowell the first American to sign with the Liga MX giants, a big step for U.S. soccer. As our own Herculez Gomez pointed out, the pressure’s going to be on Cade to perform like never before. Suerte, Cade. 🙏

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