After years plagued by persistent injuries and a disappointing spell at Borussia Mönchengladbach, Giovanni Reyna has finally made his long-awaited breakthrough at Racing Strasbourg. The 23-year-old American is flourishing in France’s Ligue 1, has immediately established himself as a key player, and is once again showing, for both club and country, the quality that once made him one of Europe’s most sought-after talents. But what sparked a turnaround that had almost seemed impossible?
With Reyna frequently dogged by injuries, just as he had been in Dortmund, the attempt to revive his career at Borussia Mönchengladbach also proved ill-fated. In 19 Bundesliga appearances, the playmaker managed just 510 minutes and a single goal, prompting the Foals to close the chapter after only one season. Reyna was sold to French top-flight side Racing Strasbourg for three million euros—a loss of one million.
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What initially looked like another sad chapter in the story of a fallen talent has suddenly become a genuine fresh start in France. In Alsace, the 23-year-old has quickly become a pivotal figure. Coach Hugo Oliveira has placed his full trust in him, deploying him as a number eight in his 4-3-3 system, where Reyna can play to his strengths.
The record from his first five Ligue 1 appearances looks promising: he started four times and scored his first goal for his new club against Troyes in early September. There is no longer any sign of the constant fear of his own body letting him down that followed him for years. Doubts about whether he could still cope with the physical demands of professional football no longer weigh on him. He recently stressed that he no longer thinks about his past injury troubles “at all” and has finally “put behind me” that dark chapter.
This newfound rhythm and confidence in his fitness have carried over seamlessly to the US national team. Coach Mauricio Pochettino remained a loyal advocate even during Reyna’s toughest times, consistently supporting the gifted technician despite his lack of playing time and selecting him for the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
The attacking midfielder recently backed up Pochettino’s praise for his close control and footballing intelligence with strong performances and assists against Peru, Chile and Mexico. Between August and October, he started eight consecutive matches across all competitions for Strasbourg and the USA—a first in his professional career. That also underlines the enormous injury problems he has faced throughout his career.
Speaking to ‘The Athletic,’ he made it clear that he currently sees no reason to take a break, because “people sometimes think that rest is a good way to manage the workload,” but he feels he gets back into form best when he gets “as many minutes as possible” and “ideally, starts too.” He neatly summed up his newfound confidence with the words: “And I’m getting stronger all the time.”
📸 Rich Storry – 2026 Getty Images
Despite being just 23, Reyna has amassed a wealth of experience through his early successes and painful setbacks, which he readily shares as a leader in the young USA and Strasbourg squads. While those in Mönchengladbach are probably watching through gritted teeth as their former player now delivers elsewhere exactly what they had hoped for in the Lower Rhine, Reyna is simply enjoying the moment. After the recent international victory over Mexico, he aptly summed up just how comfortable he feels with himself and his game again, admitting with relief: “I feel like I’m slowly getting back to being fully myself.”
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.