Reinier Jesus: Who is the Borussia Dortmund loan signing from Real Madrid?
Borussia Dortmund have signed Reinier Jesus on a two-year loan deal from Real Madrid. bundesliga.com profiles the Brazil U23 international with more than a touch of Marco Reus about his game...
Reinier Jesus
Age: 18
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Position: Attacking midfielder
Country: Brazil (U23 cap)
Key stats
Reinier scored six goals in 14 appearances during Flamengo's 2019 Brazilian league title-winning season. He made a late cameo in the quarter-finals of the 2018/19 Copa Liberatadores - which Flamengo went on to win - but was an unused substitute in their FIFA Club World Cup final defeat to Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool.
Amid reported interest from the likes of Barcelona and Manchester City, Reinier left his boyhood club to join Real in January 2020. He registered two goals and one assist in three outings for the Castilla team - coached by Real and Schalke legend Raul - only to have his progress checked by injury.
A former U16 and U17 international, Reinier opened his U23 account at the third time of asking in the Summer Olympics qualifying win over Bolivia, playing in six of his country's matches prior to his Madrid move. The 6'0"-tall, right-footed attacker was rated 72 on FIFA 20's career mode, albeit with a potential overall grade of 90. He is set to become the 11th Brazilian to play for Dortmund in the Bundesliga, following in the footsteps of the likes of Marcio Amoroso and Dede.
Plays a bit like: Marco Reus
Whisper it quietly, but Reinier could well be the long-term successor to Reus, now 31. The Brazilian is technical, creative, has an eye for goal and glides past opposition players in a manner not all that different from BVB's incumbent captain fantastic. He can play centrally or in a wide attacking position, too.
Did you know?
According to a report by Fox Sports Brasil, Bayer Leverkusen's Paulinho was keen on Reinier joining him at the BayArena. Reacting to an Instagram post of his Brazil U23 teammate celebrating his first 12 months as a professional, the Leverkusen attacker - who left Vasco da Gama for Germany in summer 2018 - commented 'vem', which means 'come' in Portuguese. The duo could face off on Bundesliga Matchday 17 of the 2020/21 campaign, when Bayer host Dortmund.
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What they're saying
"It's important for him to keep his feet on the ground and to not believe the criticism that's going to come up during his career. He's going to be brilliant!" - Brazil U23 coach, Andre Jardine
"Reinier is one of the leading emerging stars in the world game" - Real Madrid club statement following his transfer from Flamengo
"I'm happy to be with BVB now. The club is known for backing young players and making them better. I want to learn a lot here, play a lot and help the team to be successful. I hope that we'll have many happy moments together." - Reinier on his move
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