Manchester City youngster who is finding it difficult to break into Enzo Maresca’s starting eleven has revealed his plan when he returns from the international break.
Vitor Reis may be short on minutes at club level, but he is finding no shortage of confidence from his country’s national team setup as he declares that the daily grind at the Etihad is shaping him regardless of how often he plays.
Limited City minutes, growing Brazil role
Vitor Reis has featured for just 91 minutes for City so far this season, yet head coach Carlo Ancelotti handed him another Brazil call-up for the current international break. The 20-year-old went on to make his first start for the Seleção, partnering Marquinhos in central defence during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Australia.
The match was a notable step up for a player who has managed only a full League Cup outing against Norwich City and a single substitute appearance against Crystal Palace domestically this term.
Speaking to ESPN Brazil, Reis was candid about his situation under Enzo Maresca, City’s head coach since the summer, revealing that his future plan is to show his football whenever he gets he opportunity.
“At City, I learn a lot every day. I know I’m working hard to get my opportunities and, when they come, I have to show my football.”
“But I think it’s a huge club, so there’s not much else to say. There are players who help me grow a lot every day, because you have to be very good in training.”
That mindset appears to have paid dividends internationally. Ancelotti has previously made clear he is willing to select promising young players even when they are not getting regular club minutes. Reis’s latest call-up, followed by a first start, suggests he remains firmly on the Italian’s radar.
A dream realised alongside an idol
For Reis, lining up next to Marquinhos carried extra significance. He described the experience as one of the proudest moments of his career so far. He also reflected on how far he has come since breaking into senior international football only months ago.
“It’s difficult to even believe I’m with the Brazilian national team, isn’t it? Because it’s a dream every kid has. We start playing football in Brazil thinking about the national team. So I think it’s a reason for a lot of happiness. It’s very rewarding for me to see everything that’s happening in my life.”
He added of playing alongside his defensive partner: “I was also very happy to make my debut alongside Marquinhos, who’s an idol of mine. It’s a very happy moment for me.”
Reis’s rise has been rapid. He earned his first senior Brazil call-up in March while on loan at Girona, reportedly finding out only after being woken up by the news.
He was subsequently named in Ancelotti’s preliminary 55-man World Cup squad but did not make the final cut. The setback he says he took in his stride rather than as a major disappointment, given how recently he had broken into contention.
Back in Manchester, the centre-back continues to soak up lessons from senior teammates, having previously credited Rubén Dias with helping his development. This time, he offered a lighter insight into life alongside Erling Haaland, describing the Norwegian striker as approachable and good-humoured around the training ground.
For now, regular Premier League football remains elusive under Maresca, who has other options to call upon in defence as he settles into his first full season in charge at the Etihad. But Reis’s message is straightforward: keep working, stay ready, and make the most of it when the chance finally comes.
