Gio Reyna backed by Borussia Dortmund following USMNT row
By Chris Smith
Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl has moved to defend Giovanni Reyna following the fallout from the player's World Cup campaign with the United States.
Despite arguably being his nation's biggest talent, Reyna played just 52 minutes across four games as the USMNT went unbeaten in Group B before crashing out with a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands at the round-of-16 stage.
Fans were understandably annoyed and confused at Reyna's lack of action, but the situation escalated when post-tournament comments surfaced from head coach Gregg Berhalter, who accused a player within the camp of failing to put his best efforts in - to the point where staff even considered sending him home.
Multiple outlets later confirmed Reyna was the player in question, prompting a response from the playmaker on social media stating his 'disappointment' at the public comments and locker room leaks.
Following the leaks, there were reports that Reyna's suggested behavior with the national team tied up with his conduct at club level. However, Kehl and Dortmund have moved quickly to crush that speculation and back their star talent.
"We have been very surprised by the type of coverage Gio Reyna has been getting in the last few days. After having a really difficult time with several injuries, he has our full support," Kehl told the Deutsche Presse Agentur.
He added: "We've known the lad for many years. We've known him to be a solid person who delivers professional work and is a valued presence in the locker room. The notion that this is now in doubt after a few days in Qatar is incomprehensible for us and does not accurately reflect Gio Reyna."