'There's inherent risk' - Alexi Lalas warns that any clubs pursuing USMNT's Giovanni Reyna, be it in Serie A or MLS, 'have to kick those tires' to ensure he can contribute

Addressing Giovanni Reyna's deteriorating position at Borussia Dortmund, former USMNT player Alexi Lalas said the 22-year-old's dramatic fall has resulted in both a decline in transfer value and reputation. To that end, he said that even a move to MLS would come with some risk.

“Anybody signing Gio Reyna, given what has happened and how far his stock has fallen, there's inherent risk," Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast. “You have to kick those tires and worry that this is not a temporary type of event or something that this player can't grow out of. So from an MLS perspective, maybe it's even more of a risk because of the structure of Major League Soccer.... obviously it looks like he's going to Parma right now. But if someone like Gio Reyna, given the circumstances were to come to Major League Soccer, I mean, he's not coming for pennies.

“He is going to get paid a good substantial amount of money, even though there is a desperation kind of to get him to someplace to play that we have talked about. And so he's going to take that salary cap money could take, you know, be a designated player.”

Lalas said that Reyna's next club - whether Serie A's Parma or in MLS - will need to carefully evaluate the risks.

“You're just hoping that this player - that we all know is talented and has incredible potential - was just in a untenable situation," he said. "As opposed to a player that is really problematic right now and it doesn't matter where he is, he is going to struggle for whatever reason. It could be he just stunted his growth. It could be he's developed bad habits.

"I don't ultimately know what it is. I don't want any of that to happen. But yes, of course there's risk. But I would think there would there would be risk for anybody in MLS or if it turns out to be true that he is, is going to Parma, there is a risk involved there too.”

Giovanni Reyna has one year left on his current contract and is set to leave Borussia Dortmund after being reportedly told that he was surplus at the club.

Reyna must carefully evaluate transfer options that balance competitive level and playing time as he seeks to rebuild his career ahead of the 2026 World Cup.