USMNT Legend Landon Donovan Urges Gio Reyna to Consider MLS Transfer

United States Mens National Team legends Tim Howard and Landon Donovan had some strong opinions about Gio Reyna’s decision to stay at Dortmund.

The young American has struggled with injuries since joining the German side. He just returned two weeks ago from a groin injury that kept him out of action for two and a half months. The year prior, he missed another three months. Reyna has only featured in 54 minutes so far this season. This prompted Howard and Donovan, who were speaking on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast, to question Reyna.

“In a case like Gio, great you signed with Borussia Dortmund, great you went on loan to Forest. You don’t play soccer,” said Donovan.

“I used to hate this. You’re a soccer player, you’re not a soccer practicer. You’re not a soccer-contracted person. You’re a soccer player. Do you want to play soccer or not?”

“I know injuries with Gio, but I just get so sick of this bullsh*t. People crap on MLS all the time and I get it and whatever. Guess what? Gio Reyna in MLS would play 300 games by now. Hopefully would’ve been fit,” Donovan emphatically remarked.

Fellow co-host Howard agreed with Donovan that he should look to getting his career back on track in preparation for the 2026 World Cup in North America:

“The U.S. doesn’t have the luxury like Brazil. If you miss on one [great player], so what, there’s another one. We don’t have that luxury. So when you get a player like a Christian Pulisic or Tim Weah — Gio Reyna is special, man. He’s got magic in his boots, he’s got a toughness and a doggedness about him that not every US player has. He’s physically very gifted.“

“Because of that I want to see him play more. It’s so difficult to manage those elements of your career. Between now and the World Cup, I hope things get better. Either he moves on or plays more at Dortmund, because he’s a special talent.”

Borussia Dortmund’s next match is December 7th, where they take on Borussia Monchengladbach.