Manchester City's January signing initiates surprise departure demand
In the bustling world of football, Manchester City's young defender Vitor Reis is eyeing a loan move to gain regular first-team opportunities. With several European clubs showing interest, Girona, a La Liga club linked to City Football Group, has emerged as the front runner for the Portuguese defender.
Reis joined Manchester City in January 2025 for approximately £29.6 million. However, he did not feature regularly in the second half of the 2024/25 season, leading to his request for a loan move. The club and player seem to be in agreement that a temporary departure would benefit Reis' development while also helping Manchester City manage their squad size, aligning with manager Pep Guardiola's preferences.
Girona's connection to City Football Group makes it an attractive loan destination that fits the club's developmental strategy. Other clubs, such as Portuguese side Porto and German side Bayer Leverkusen, now managed by Erik ten Hag, have expressed interest in taking Reis on loan for the upcoming season. However, the deal with Girona appears to be the most advanced, with the transfer reportedly close to being finalized.
The 19-year-old Reis has made just four first-team appearances for Manchester City, including only one minute in the Premier League. Only Omar Marmoush managed to establish himself in the first team among the four players (Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Vitor Reis) who were signed in January 2025. Gonzalez, Khusanov, and possibly Marmoush may also be leaving the club due to limited minutes, with Marmoush's potential departure adding to the competition for central defensive positions.
John Stones, Nathan Ake, and Manuel Akanji are all over 30, and their advanced age makes them more susceptible to injuries. This situation further emphasises the need for Manchester City to address their central defense depth, and a loan for Reis could be the solution.
While Reis may gain plenty of experience staying at Manchester City, his eagerness for more minutes is understandable. The expanded Champions League makes for a busy schedule, and consistent first-team exposure could be closer than he thinks with a loan move. The future of Vitor Reis at Manchester City remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: he is eager to develop and make a name for himself in the world of football.
[1] Manchester City's Vitor Reis Seeks Loan Move Away [2] Vitor Reis Wants Loan Move from Manchester City [3] Vitor Reis Linked with Loan Move to Girona [4] Vitor Reis' Loan Move to Girona Nearly Finalized [5] Transfer News: Vitor Reis Close to Loan Move to Girona
[1] Manchester City's Vitor Reis, eager for regular first-team opportunities, is contemplating a loan move.[2] Amidst interest from several European clubs, the Portuguese defender, Vitor Reis, could join La Liga's Girona, a club connected to City Football Group, as his potential loan destination.
