Gio Reyna relishing his new leadership role with French club that bodes well for USMNT chances

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — The last time Gio Reyna was a lineup regular at the club level, he was still a teenager. 

Since then, he’s been part of one scandal, two World Cups and three club teams — Borussia Dortmund, Nottingham Forest and Borussia Mönchengladbach — without finding a fit. So it’s not surprising to hear Reyna be effusive about Strasbourg, the French club to which he transferred this summer, and for which he’s started four of the first five games of the season in Ligue 1. 

“Obviously as a player, all you want to do is really play,” Reyna said Monday as the U.S. national team opened a two-week, four-game camp in the Atlanta exurbs. “I was desperate at times over the last couple years just to be on the field. Whether it’s injuries or maybe situation, but obviously speaking with clubs and speaking to [Strasbourg coach Hugo Oliveira], right away, I knew I wanted to make a step there. The soccer fits me. The club project fits me well.” 

Strasbourg, which sits eighth in the domestic table at the international break, is owned by Clearlake Capital, which also owns English giant Chelsea. Being under the same umbrella as Chelsea — Todd Boehly and Mark Walter also owned stakes in both clubs before selling them to Clearlake last week — means the club is largely used as a player development vehicle.

The oldest player on the team is 24, and Reyna, upon transferring there for a €3 million fee from Mönchengladbach following the World Cup, was asked to take a leadership role in the dressing room. 

All this, naturally, bodes well for his national team prospects. 

“That’s part of the role they asked me to come in and take on: be a leader and help the team,” Reyna said. “Of course my performance as well, just bring some experience. Really, really enjoying my time so far.” 

The national team will honor Tim Ream on the field before next week’s match against Chile in Ream’s hometown of St. Louis. 

While it is not a retirement ceremony from the national team — the 38-year-old is still eligible for selection — the Round of 16 loss to Belgium at the World Cup was very likely his last appearance for the national team. Ream captained the Americans at the World Cup, but with Mauricio Pochettino signaling a turn toward the younger side of the pool in his roster for this camp, it would be a surprise if Ream were picked again. 

Sixteen of the 28 players called into camp were in attendance at training Monday, the absentees being those who played for their club teams Sunday.