Real Madrid not happy about their most ambitious loan

Real Madrid sent Reinier Jesus to Borussia Dortmund on a two-year loan this summer, but the future superstar has barely featured.

There are a lot of reasons for a big club like Real Madrid to trust Borussia Dortmund with a key loan. Dortmund are more willing than any other high-level club to give opportunities to young players, even loanees. Look at how much Achraf Hakimi progressed in two years when Real loaned him to BVB. Even when he struggled defensively and costed BVB with his mistakes, Lucien Favre and Co. never wavered in their support of the player. And he ended up becoming one of their superstars in 2019-2020.

This season, Real Madrid sent center attacking midfielder Reinier Jesus, purchased for 30 million euros from Flamengo last winter, to Dortmund on a two-year loan. They had high expectations for Reinier, who was wanted by other clubs in Europe, including Bayer Leverkusen and Real Sociedad as Martin Odegaard’s replacement.

Unfortunately, Reinier’s loan hasn’t gotten off to an ideal start from Real’s perspective. The young Brazilian has featured in just 38 Bundesliga minutes and 18 Champions League minutes in four appearances off the bench.

Mario Cortegana of AS reports that both Real Madrid and Reinier are not happy with the current situation, emphasizing that the club wants Reinier to play no matter what over the next two years. The priority is for him to get game time.

Reinier’s situation is much different than Achraf Hakimi’s

It is understandable for Real to think of Hakimi’s success at the Signal Iduna Park, but the reality is that their situations are different. Hakimi played when Dortmund had injuries at fullback at first and was even used in different positions due to his versatility before becoming a fixture as the right wing back in Favre’s new system.

Reinier, meanwhile, has more competition as an attacking midfielder. Dortmund have one of the best young prospects in the world in Gio Reyna, who has piqued Real’s own interest. Julian Brandt, Mahmoud Dahoud, Marco Reus, and Thorgan Hazard round out the attacking talent whom Reinier is conceivably competing against.

There is still time for Reinier to play in this loan, and if Real Madrid want to terminate the loan, they run the risk of upsetting a club they have a good relationship with. And if Real want to sign Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho, Reyna, or any other Dortmund star in the near future, that relationship is crucial.