Red Bulls to introduce Reyna on Wednesday

The Red Bulls will introduce Claudio Reyna as the team's newest player at a press conference tomorrow at Giants Stadium. The news shouldn't surprise anybody but what will surprise some is that Reyna will be counting as a designated player, which leaves the Red Bulls with one designated player slot to use between now and the summer transfer window.

Reyna, who was released from his contract with Manchester City on Tuesday, will take up one of the Red Bulls two designated player slots for the 2007 season. He will be expected to take over as the team's captain and handle the central midfield duties left by departed Honduran Amado Guevara, who was traded to Chivas USA for a designated player slot.

Reyna, 33, played in 13 matches for Manchester City this season, starting 10. He was limited to due a variety of injuries but is presently healthy and is expected to join the Red Bulls as they prepare for training camp next month.

Reyna retired from the U.S. national team after last summer's World Cup. He finished his international career having played in three World Cups, recording 112 appearances for the United States, fourth most in national team history.

A Springfield, New Jersey native, Reyna will be re-united with former U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena, who also coached Reyna at the University of Virginia.

The trade effectively means the Red Bulls dealt away Amado Guevara for Reyna. I know some people hate that idea but for me, it's a no-brainer. Yes, Reyna is an injury risk, but the guy makes the players around him better. He has an understanding of the game that few players in MLS have.

Reyna is also gold in the locker room, someone who can relate to the stars and the young guys alike. Would it have been better if he had simply come in for a league max salary? Sure it would have been, but anyone who thinks Reyna isn't deserving of DP money doesn't have much of a clue. Fact is if he had stayed at City he would be making double what the Red Bulls will now pay him and he would be starting (yes, if healthy).

Comments

[The 5th Official]

I was thrilled to learn that Bruce was coming, I was also glad to hear that Claudio is coming. I'm not so convinced that using a DP for this is a good idea, but all I keep saying to myself is...

God, I hope Bruce knows what he's doing.

Our mantra has to be - Faith in Bruce, Faith in Bruce....everyone, repeat after me....Faith in Bruce, Faith in Bruce, Faith in Bruce.....

[inkedAG]

Is there a pool for how many games he'll play before he gets injured? I'll bet on four. ;)

[Aljarov]

As long as this is the minor DP (i.e the $325k) that's okay.

Remember some of the chumps who made more than that in 2006 - like Mathis, Armas, Sanneh etc....

He is deserving.

[Nic]

Can't wait for Reyna to play in Texas. I'll definitely make the drive to Frisco (which sometimes seems closer to Oklahoma than Dallas) or Houston to see Captain America play.

[Area Code 212]

Do you know how much he's been offered? Or how much was he paid by ManCity?

If not, how can you make the statement that "Fact is if he had stayed at City he would be making double what the Red Bulls will now pay him"??

I don't think he's worth Amado (DP slot) + whatever he's paid. Will he play more games? Will he score more goals? Will he have more assists?

We'll see, I guess.

[Go Metro]

Very glad to hear Claudio is coming to play for us. And I can't picture him ever disrespecting the team and the fans the way Amado was accustomed to doing. Welcome home, Claudio.

[RG]

i wonder how long the contract is. let's hope this isn't Ramos II.

[Brian]

They didn't trade Guevara for Reyna. They traded Guevara for whoever they use their second slot on. This is their first slot.

[Will]

Hope he makes a better assistant coach than a player because he'll be riding the pine after three weeks of playing on that concrete.

[Joe in ND]

I like this move because I am always excited to see the players that play/played for the USMNT back in the MLS.

[Area Code 212]

Brian, glad you're not the GM. You would sure waste the 2 DP slots in no time.

DP slot should only be used for a world class player . . . otherwise why trade your best player for a DP slot?

[Tony M]

As an MLS fan, I'm glad to see Reyna finally playing stateside. He'll bring a lot of intelligence with him on the field.

[Lalique]

Reyna not a world class player???? He may have lost a step since 2002 when he was voted one of the top 11 in the WC, but last year, when healthy (yes, sigh) he was rated for much of the beginning of the season as the top player in the EPL according to Actim Stats (how they formulate them I don't know). Reyna may not score a lot of goals and he may not register a lot of assists, but if he raises the level of play from his teammates (who do score the goals and get the assists) then it's worth it.... Guevara only seems to cause a rift in the locker room because he always had to be The Man.

[ag nigrin]

Reyna is the man! Welcome Claudio! As I posted elsewhere, RBNY now has the best American player and he will help deliver our 1st championship... Go Bulls and to hell with the naysayers!

[Frank Cart]

I'm glad Reyna is not on my team...his last minutes on the nat'l team were a disgrace....have some pride and stand up...he gives the ball away which was terrible, but then had zero class for the world to see....enjoy NY.

[Brian]

When did I say I'd use it on him? All I was doing was pointing out some irrational hysteria by some fans. But I'm sure Amado has his World Cup Best XI trophy somewhere where we all can see it. :rolleyes:

[Carter]

Interesting that Watterreus is not in this...I read somewhere that they were waiting on him cus they wern't sure if they wanted to use an SI slot on him.

[pjdinho]

With the news of Reyna signing and yet no word on a big-time forward, I'd like to see the MetroBulls go 4-3-3 for opening day:

van den Bergh --- Altidore --- Schopp
Kovalenko --- Reyna --- Stammler
Dunivant --- Mendes --- Parke --- Wynne
Conway (or Waterrus when signed)

Neither DVDB nor Schopp will have much interest in playing much defense, and I like the bite brought by Dema and Stammler to the midfield. With Dema, Stammler and Reyna controlling the center of the park, we open up room for Dunivant and Wynne to get forward in the attack. Woly can also work well for Altidore in this setup.

All this changes if/when additional players are brought in... but for now, I'd trot out this lineup against the rest of the Eastern Conference and take my chances!

[Carter]

I saw Dyer said it won't be a dp.

[rbny]

if Arena came out in a 4-3-3 the world just might come to an end.

[Nic]

Here's where you can find the Dyer article Carter mentioned: http://ny.metro.us/metro/sports/article/Reyna_to_join_Red_Bulls_/6643.html.