Vitor Reis convinced Girona loan has prepared him for Manchester City breakthrough

Vitor Reis believes a season of regular football at Girona has left him ready to compete for a place in Manchester City's first team under new head coach Enzo Maresca.

The Brazilian centre-back has returned to the Etihad after an impressive loan spell in La Liga, convinced the experience has transformed him both as a player and as a professional.

After arriving from Palmeiras in a €37 million (£31.5 million) deal in January 2025, Reis was sent to Girona to gain valuable first-team experience rather than remain on the fringes of Pep Guardiola's squad.

The decision proved a success.

The 20-year-old made 38 appearances in all competitions, scoring once and registering one assist as he became one of Girona's standout performers.

Reflecting on the campaign, Reis admitted regular football made all the difference.

"It helped me a lot because I was able to play regularly in a very strong and competitive league."

"Playing consistently makes a huge difference, and I felt I improved a lot during the season at Girona."

Now back in Manchester, Reis is looking forward to beginning a new chapter under Maresca.

The defender spoke enthusiastically about the Italian coach before returning for pre-season.

"Maresca is a great coach with a lot of football knowledge. My expectations of working with him are very high."

Manchester City's defensive picture has changed considerably over the past year, potentially opening the door for greater opportunities after his successful spell in Spain.

Although Reis made only a handful of appearances before departing on loan, he believes training every day alongside some of the world's best players accelerated his development.

He singled out Ruben Dias and Erling Haaland as major influences during his first months at the club.

"City have a great squad and excellent players."

"I learned a lot during my first spell there, especially from Ruben Dias, who encourages me a lot, and from Haaland himself, who is one of the best strikers in world football."

Regularly facing Haaland in training provided invaluable preparation before testing himself against elite attackers in La Liga.

Reis' performances for Girona earned him his first senior Brazil call-up before he was also included in Carlo Ancelotti's preliminary World Cup squad.

Although he narrowly missed out on the final tournament selection, the campaign significantly enhanced his reputation.

The Brazilian finished the season as the country's most-used player in La Liga and gained experience against some of Europe's biggest stars.

"Facing great players such as Vinícius Junior, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham demands maximum concentration."

He also explained how Spanish football differs from the Premier League.

"The Premier League demands more strength and intensity, while La Liga focuses more on technique and tactics."

Reis will now look to impress Maresca during pre-season as he competes for a regular role in Manchester City's defence.

After combining elite-level training at the Etihad with a breakthrough campaign in La Liga, the Brazilian believes he has returned as a far more complete defender and is ready to seize his opportunity.

Can Vitor Reis establish himself as a regular starter for Manchester City this season?