There were 31 players who began preseason camp in Jacksonville, Florida for New York City FC, and perhaps most intriguing for the clubās fans is top prospect Giovanni Reyna.
The son of NYCFC sporting director Claudio Reyna is one of five players invited from the clubās academy to train with the first team. And when preseason ends in six weeks, the 15-year-old could find himself as the clubās next Homegrown signing.
āI think it is one of the possibilities,ā NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira said in a conference call with reporters Wednesday. āBut what was important for me, Claudio and the football club, is to give those players an experience to do preseason with the first team. I think after that preseason weāre going to have a really good idea of where they are and what is the best option for them.ā
That experience is a challenging one mentally and physically with double sessions in the Florida heat. How Reyna and Academy teammates Joe Scally, Tyler Shaver, Justin Haak and Dante Polvara handle it will determine their next steps.
āItās all about the experience and to see how theyāre going to cope with the physical aspect of the game, the tactical demand of the game,ā Vieira said. āDay after day we have double sessions, physically itās going to be tough. Itās going to be a good test for us to analyze where they are at the moment."
Reyna, who trained with the first team at times last year, won the Premier Division Golden Ball at last yearās Generation adidas Cup and was reportedly contemplating a move to Europe in 2018 after signing with an agent and adidas late last year.
āFor a kid of 15 years old, he has this physical presence and his game understanding is really good,ā Vieira said. āHe can score goals, he understands the demands of the game tactically. Heās a really smart kid and heās shown some really good stuff.ā
If Reyna signs with NYCFC, he would be the clubās second Homegrown signing, following in James Sandsā footsteps. The 17-year-old US youth international, who has played as both a central defender and a defensive midfielder, came off the substitutes bench to make his MLS debut in a 1-1 draw against Colorado last September.
āJames is still really young and we have to keep developing him in both positions,ā Vieira said. āItās a little too early to say what will be his best position. I think weāre going to make him work as a holding midfielder and as a central back. Heās still can develop and in a couple of years I can answer you what is his best position.ā
Also in preseason camp is 26-year-old central defender Sebastien Ibeagha, who was the USL Defender of the Year at San Antonio FC last year. Itās a position NYCFC lacked depth in a year ago.
āWhen you bring the best defender in the [USL] last year that means he has something really interesting so we just wanted to look at him,ā Vieira said. āIn the first few days, heās been really good. Heās tough, heās really strong, he has really good pace. Heās doing good.ā