Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has labelled Vitor Reis “a young John Stones” after his ‘really impressive’ home debut against Plymouth Argyle last weekend.
Pep Guardiola‘s side have secured their spot in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after coming from behind to beat the Pilgrims 3-1 in the fifth round at the Etihad Stadium, courtesy of a brace from Nico O’Reilly and a goal from Kevin de Bruyne.
While both O’Reilly and De Bruyne received plenty of plaudits for their contributions against Plymouth, McInerney felt that ‘the story of the game’ was the performance of 19-year-old defender Reis, who joined City from Palmeiras for a reported £29m in Januarydespite reported interest from several top clubs including Real Madrid.
No player touched the ball on more occasions (109), completed more successful passes (87), won more duels (11) and made more clearances (nine) in City’s win over Plymouth than Reis, who showed both physicality and composure at the heart of Guardiola’s backline.
“I was really impressed with him! I’m not exaggerating to say I’ve been thinking about his performance since the weekend,” McInerney told Buzz.
“I thought he looked composed in his first game against Leyton Orient, but I wasn’t so sure if Vitor Reis would be ready (for regular first-team football) if needed any time soon, because he looks quite slender, he didn’t have much physical stuff to do and I think there was one time when he was beaten the pace.
Vitor Reis: Is “a young John Stones” destined to become a “brilliant footballer”?
“He looks talented, composed, but I didn’t know if he was going to be there yet physically for a while. I was really impressed with him against Plymouth, though. There’s so many videos going around of his aerial dominance and I noticed that during the game.
“The amount of times he’d leap like a salmon to get above the defender. He was winning headers for fun. I looked at the stats afterwards and I think he completed nine out of 13 aerial duels against a big man up top, against a side that know how to be physical and direct.
“I was really impressed by his physicality as well as his composure. He’s that kind of defender who doesn’t just head the ball, he heads and passes the ball at the same time. (Abdukodir) Khusanov’s like that too. It’s a very rare trait where they don’t just clear it, they pass it.
“The way he spoke after the game as well, he spoke like a captain. I’ve been sat there thinking the last couple of days that Khusanov looks brilliant and Vitor Reis is actually slightly more ahead than I realised he was, because even though he’s slender, he’s physical, he’s aggressive and he’s strong.
“Reis also looks like a young John Stones, you could watch a compilation from that game and if someone told you that it was John Stones at 16, 17 when he joined City, I would honestly believe you, because the similarities to where he approached the game and the way he moves were uncanny.
“That for me was exciting. I think he’s going to be a brilliant footballer. I think all the hype around him, the fact that Real Madrid wanted him and all these other sides, I saw it.
“It was just Plymouth, I get it, but physically, I was really impressed and with his composure as well. We’ve seen Khusanov look brilliant and I think Vitor Reis might just be as exciting.”
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Guardiola “will have no trouble leaning on” Reis, Khusanov
With Stones and Manuel Akji sidelined for several weeks through injury and Nathan Ake also facing another spell in the treatment room after being taken off at half time against Plymouth, McInerney believes that Guardiola has “no choice” but to rely on Reis and fellow new recruit Abdukodir khusanov to play regularly in defence along with Ruben days.
“Absolutely. I think we have no choice (but to rely on Reis and Khusanov) and Guardiola was very thankful afterwards saying he’s glad that we got these two, because otherwise we’d just have Ruben Dias,” McInerney added.
“We’ve had Jahmai Simpson-Pusey a bit this season. He looks such a talent, but I mean this with the greatest respect to him, even in just these glimpses of what we’ve seen of Khusanov, in particular, and Vitor Reis, they do look like they’re ahead of him. They do look like they’re more complete.
“Simpson-Pusey might be City’s best young academy prospect, but I think Vitor Reis is the best young defensive prospect in South America, potentially…I think he’s way more ready (for first-team involvement).
“I think Guardiola will have no trouble leaning on these two, especially at home in games where City are controlling the ball and so on, like we were against Plymouth, and we’re getting better at that.
“If City had a paring of Vitor Reis and Khusanov against Leicester at home (April 2), I wouldn’t be concerned, and this might sound mad, but I wouldn’t even be concerned at Old Trafford (against Manchester United on April 6), given their form. I think they’ve got inherent quality.”
Press play on the video at the top of this article to hear the full discussion.
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