Reinier as Vinícius or Rodrygo? So far, only a big disappointment

Reinier came to Real Madrid with the idea of playing alongside Vinícius and Rodrigue. To date, however, he has been wandering around on loan and hasn’t shown why Real Madrid should at least include him on the roster. Moreover, any subsequent season could be the Brazilian’s last chance of a peek at the White Ballet team.

Reinier on the road in Europe

Reinier entered adult football in the jersey of Flamengo, of which he is a product. At the age of 17, he got his first glimpse of a Brazilian Serie A match. He scored a goal and an assist on his first start in the starting line-up and celebrated a 3-0 win against Avaí. He played in just 15 games for the Brazilian side, scoring 6 goals and assisting 2 others, before moving to Real Madrid for €30 million.

A few months passed and the Brazilian youngster went on his first loan move to Dortmund, which was supposed to be the ideal destination to play him in European football. However, his very first season in Germany suggested that something was not right. Reinier often didn’t even get nominated for a match, often sitting on the bench.

During his first season he played only 338 minutes in 19 starts. Not only Real Madrid seemed to have hoped for more. The second season the Brazilian spent in the Bundesliga was no more glorious. The fans of the Spanish outfit could see the youngster on the pitch only 20 times, with a serving of just 402 minutes. So, in 2 seasons, he played less than 1,000 minutes and scored a single goal.

Right after the end of his loan spell, Reinier commented on what happened at Dortmund: “I wanted to leave. I was on time for training, I respected everyone at the club, I was always on time everywhere. I have a clear conscience, but it was 2 lost years.”

Reinier was unable to establish himself in the packed White Ballet squad during the summer of 2022. So Girona was the next destination for a guest appearance. At the Catalan club, the Brazilian has been making his way over time. However, with the stop came a muscle injury and then a hamstring injury, altogether resulting in almost 4 months out of action. So it was another hard blow for the young Brazilian after an unsuccessful loan spell in Germany.

He started 18 games for Girona, playing 639 minutes and scoring a goal and an assist. The youngster, who plays as a left winger or offensive midfielder, should definitely be much more productive. Especially when his competition at Real Madrid are players like Rodrygo, Vinícius or Brahim Diaz who have no problem with productivity.

Current situation

In the current season, Reinier is a guest at Frosinone in Italy. He has played 788 minutes with 2 goals and 2 assists. However, during December he had again a problem with a hamstring injury. The Italian club is just above the relegation places and would need more offensive quality, especially from Reinier.

So, at the moment, the situation is such that Florentino Pérez and Real’s scouts are not happy with Reinier at all. The Brazilian hasn’t shown anything worth €30 million so far. Of course, a transfer from Brazil doesn’t always work out, but Madrid can pat themselves on the back with Rodryg and Vinícius.

If Kylian Mbappé were to arrive in the summer, Reinier would probably have his path to the White Ballet’s squad completely closed, there are far more quality and productive players in all positions. Proof can be seen in the situation of Arda Guler, who still doesn’t get many chances after his summer transfer. So, most likely, the sale of Reinier will follow, who would leave for free in the summer of 2026.

Source: Transfermarkt, Real Madrid