When it comes to identifying and nurturing young talent into elite football players, Real Madrid is one of the finest in the world. However, that does not imply that they constantly sign young people at a discount.
For example, Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior. They are currently among the top wingers in the world, and even though their calibre was uncertain when they came to Spain, they were still quite expensive.
Few would contest Los Blancos’ expenditure of about £75 million to acquire the two, given that they have since blossomed into outstanding football players. Madrid gambled on another gifted young player, Reinier Jesus, in 2020 because both players were already on the books, but his experience in Europe has been much less successful.
From ‘New Kaka’ to Real Madrid Flop Reinier is currently playing football in the second division of Spain.
In Brazil, Reinier immediately made a name for himself as a very exciting prospect. Following his debut in Flamengo’s senior lineup, he scored six goals and provided two assists in 15 games with the first squad.
He was labelled ‘the new Kaka’ right away since he was an attacking midfielder with a knack for scoring. In 2019, Guilherme Dalla Dea, the former coach of Brazil’s Under-17 team, addressed FIFA:
“He is incredibly gifted. He is a Kaka, in my opinion, and a ’10’. Reiner exhibits these traits, in my opinion. He enjoys scoring goals and going inside the box. He also finds ways to score goals. I really believe in him. Despite being a child, he is quite level-headed, which is why he is our captain. I have no doubt that he will play at a very high level abroad.
After that, he would assist Flamengo in achieving a remarkable Copa Libertadores and Serie A double. Real Madrid moved in because of his rapidly expanding reputation. They agreed to pay Flamengo over £30 million for the transfer in January 2020, and 18-year-old Reiner signed a deal that would last until June 2026.
At his club presentation, he actually started crying with happiness, but later that year, in August, he was moved on a two-season loan to Borussia Dortmund after first being placed in the youth squad. Top attackers Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak both spent time at the German club, which is known for nurturing young talent, so it seemed like a fantastic opportunity.
But ever since, things have become worse. In fact, the attacker currently plays for Granada, a team in the Segunda Division, in 2025. His Real Madrid contract does not expire until the summer of 2026, hence he is currently only on loan. Given that he hasn’t yet participated in a competitive match for Los Blancos, it appears doubtful that they will ever receive a return for the £30 million they spent on him in 2020, given his value having fallen to £2 million.
Reiner Flops at Borussia Dortmund
Has struggled on loan at multiple different clubs too
The pressure was perhaps a major issue. Following the confirmation of his transfer to Madrid, former Flamengo teammate Filipe Luis informed Marca:
“I’d want to congratulate Real Madrid on this fantastic acquisition. Kaka was deadly in the neighbourhood and played with his head up, which is why I remember him. With his back to the goal, Reinier is even more talented than Kaka.
His quick assimilation in Spain was also hampered by the COVID-19 outbreak, and when football resumed, he was sent on loan to Dortmund, where playing time in the first team appeared more possible.
He had a terrible experience while in Germany from 2020 to 2022, only managing to score one goal and provide one assist in 39 senior appearances. Although it’s surprising that he remained on loan for the entire two-season period, his skill was evident at the postponed 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, when he scored a game-winning penalty in a shootout triumph over Mexico to help Brazil capture a gold medal.
He went out on loan once more, this time to Girona in La Liga, after returning to Spain. Reinier had a promising start, but any momentum was halted by injury concerns. The following summer, he struggled to find a new team and only managed to score two goals.
Career Statistics for Reinier
Club
Games
Objectives
Helps
The Flamengo
15.
6.
2.
Castilla of Real Madrid
3.
2.
One
Dortmund Borussia
39
One
One
The Girona
18
2.
One
Frosinone
23
3.
2.
Granada
24
One
4.
The only team eventually ready to pay a significant amount of Reinier’s £3 million annual salary was Frosinone, a recently promoted Serie A team. Again, in Italy, what had appeared to be good shape was ruined by fitness problems. In 23 games, he only managed three goals and two assists for the team.
Reinier was loaned to Granada in the Spanish second division in 2024 since Madrid was still unable to find a permanent home for him or find the money to use him in the first squad. It’s difficult to get enthused about the now 23-year-old given that he has only scored one goal thus far, as the statistics show.
In actuality, the creative player has had much of the same at his new club, where he struggles to get regular starts. Although his contract will keep him at Madrid for another year, he will almost certainly go permanently as soon as possible.
“I want to be Reinier, not a Kaka,” he declared when he first signed a loan deal with Dortmund. Comparisons to the Brazilian legend are now a thing of the past, which is regrettably still the case.
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