JAKARTA - Reinier Jesus officially joined Real Madrid from Flamengo on Monday, January 20. The 18-year-old will be at the Santiago Bernabeu until June 2026, but he has to start his adventure at Real Madrid Castilla first.
Brazilians believe that Reinier was destined to maintain the majesty of football in their country. The attacking midfielder is a rising star of Brazil's constant line of production, following in the footsteps of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes, who signed for Los Blancos in the summers of 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Madrid's dowry for Reinier is 30 million euros, a fair figure given although former Flamengo sporting director Carlos Noval is expected to sell him for 70 million euros - a previous release clause - last year. If only that had happened, it would have made Reinier the most expensive seller in Brasileirao's history.
#WelcomeReinier pic.twitter.com/FaVxmrGJIf
- Real Madrid CF⚽ (@realmadrid) January 20, 2020
Reinier is only 18 years old - he celebrated his birthday on January 19 yesterday - but he matured in 2019 under Flamengo head coach Jorge Jesus.
The Portuguese coach gave him the opportunity to play in Brasileirao and the Copa Libertadores at the age of 17 years and six months. Little by little he appreciated Jorge Jesus' trust: he ended his first season in Brazil's top flight, where he played 14 games, with six goals and two assists.
"Reinier is talented," said Jorge Jesus in an interview with Marca. "He is physically gifted for the second striker position, but don't create [something - a new position - for him]; don't put him on the wing because you will choke him."
"This pattern is important for him. For example, he has difficulty playing in a 4-3.3 pattern," said Jorge Jesus.
Then, who is a footballer whose game might resemble Reinier? His style of play, right-footed, played with a No.10 on his back and tall (1.84 m), it is easy to compare him to that of AC Milan legend and former Real Madrid player Kaka.
He is not fast, continued Jorge Jesus, sometimes he can even make you think he is 'heavy' or 'big', but in terms of 'sprinting' he is very difficult to stop.
"My mirror, actually, is [Lucas] Paqueta, but yeah, I think I look like Kaka too," Reinier told Torcedores.com.
"As a child I saw Kaka play with Milan, Madrid and the Brazilian national team, and he inspired me."
⚽🇧🇷 El juego de Reinier, nuestra nueva incorporación ... #WelcomeReinier | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/TW8sxRADLp
- Real Madrid CF⚽ (@realmadrid) January 20, 2020
Reinier apparently also idolized a figure who would make him closer in terms of communicating and working together. Yes, he is Zinedine Zidane.
"I've never seen him play live, but I admire him. My father (a former sports player) shows me a video (of Zidane's game) and I always imitate his movements," said Reinier.
"If Kaka is associated with strength, Zidane is associated with elegance," concluded Reinier.
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