Giovanni Reyna back with the American selection after the withdrawal of Gregg Berhalter.
Giovanni Reyna was called up to the United States on Tuesday, two and a half months after coach Gregg Berhalter was withdrawn due to an old story of domestic violence unearthed by the attacking midfielder’s parents, furious that their son had been publicly criticized after the World Cup in Qatar.
Reyna, 20, is in interim coach Anthony Hudson’s 24-man squad for CONCACAF Nations League matches against Grenada on March 24 and against El Salvador on March 27 in Orlando, Florida.
“It is clear that the situation has become a bit more complex in the months since the World Cup, but as far as we are concerned, Gio is part of our squad. He’s a good guy and a great talent. He is evaluated like any other player” Hudson said Tuesday.
“We’ve made the squad decisions that can give us the best chance of winning those games, and we’ve recalled him because we believe he can help us get there.“, he added.
The Borussia Dortmund player returns to selection after the affair which led to the provisional withdrawal of Gregg Berhalter. During the World Cup in Qatar at the end of last year, where the United States reached the round of 16, the latter had used Reyna very little (52 minutes in four matches).
A week after the elimination by the Netherlands (3-1), the coach had publicly said that he had threatened a player to fire him because of his inappropriate behavior, without naming him. But Reyna then posted a message on social media to acknowledge that he was that player.
Furious at their son’s low playing time and criticism of him, his parents admitted in January that they had reported to the Federation an episode of domestic violence more than 30 years ago, involving Berhalter and his future wife, to whom he had given a kick during an argument in a bar.
Gregg Berhalter and Claudio, Giovanni’s father, played together in the youth categories, then on the national team, and their wives were roommates when they were students at the University of North Carolina.
Berhalter had acknowledged “a shameful momentand claimed to “still regret today” this episode. The American Federation had then decided to put Berhalter temporarily in withdrawal and to appoint Anthony Hudson as interim coach, while an independent investigation is carried out.
The case short-circuited the manager’s appointment process launched a week after the elimination of the United States, while Berhalter’s coaching contract expired on December 31. After the investigation, the latter may however apply to resume his post, the Federation said on Monday.