For all the challenges of trying to break into the first team at one of Europe's biggest soccer clubs, it's life off the field that has been the most trying for budding American star Giovanni Reyna, writes ESPN's Sam Borden.
Perhaps that's unsurprising, considering the Borussia Dortmund attacker and former New York City FC academy talent's background.
Reyna grew up in the sport, the son of former U.S. national team captain — and current Austin FC sporting director. Danielle Egan, Giovanni's mother, was also an accomplished collegiate player at North Carolina and earned a half-dozen international caps for the U.S.
But as Borden writes, the 17-year-old is learning to be an adult at the same time he's learning to be an elite European player, and during a pandemic and social climate that has brought uncertainty for everyone.
Outward appearances might suggest it's been easy. From his own personal COVID-19 scare, to explaining the protests of police violence that have overtaken the U.S. in recent months, to balancing the joy of his success with the grief that his older brother is not around to see it, it is all more trying than he might let on.
