Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst will reunite with Borussia Dortmund wonderkid and namesake Giovanni Reyna when the Gers travel to Germany this week.
But due to injury and fitness problems it may not be on the pitch as the young USA midfielder builds himself back from a high-profile hamstring problem.
Giovanni Reyna is named after the Ibrox manager and is the son of former Rangers and USA star Claudio, his father and namesake meeting during their time in Glasgow.
But whilst a potential reunion with the Borussia Dortmund wonderkid and Rangers manager was the talk of the press conference after the draw, with Gio branding the situation “very special”, there are doubts about Reyna’s fitness heading into the clash.
Giovanni Reyna misses bulk of Dortmund season ahead of Rangers clash
Giovanni Reyna has spent the majority of the season out of Dortmund action after picking up a hamstring problem whilst on international duty with the USA last September.
Five months later the attacking midfielder returned to the pitch for 20 minutes at the end of Dortmund’s 5-2 drubbing at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen.
But fast forward a week and Reyna was left out of the squad for the 3-0 victory over Union Berlin, giving rise to doubts about his availability for a reunion with Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst this week.
Whilst all of the talk has been about the potential involvement of Erling Haaland – who is a major doubt for the clash – the situation surrounding Giovanni Reyna appears to have slipped under the radar.
One of the highest-rated young talents in the global game, the 19-year-old midfielder was even linked to Man City in an audacious £100m double swoop alongside Haaland last year [90min].
If Reyna can’t make either the first leg in Germany or the second in Scotland then it certainly reduces the spectacle in a footballing sense.
But for Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst and the player, it’ll also make the game a little less special if Reyna Jnr isn’t involved in some capacity over the two games.
Meanwhile, the attitude of one leading Rangers star caught the eye after swapping glitz and glamour for a rain-soaked night at Galabank.
