Reinier Jesus: Real Madrid's forgotten €30m Brazilian wonderkid now training with the reserves

The grand stage of the Santiago Bernabéu once seemed destined to be the playground for Reinier Jesus, the prodigious Brazilian attacking midfielder who arrived at Real Madrid in January 2020 for a substantial €30 million fee. Heralded as the next jewel from Brazil's seemingly endless production line of footballing talent, his signing was met with the kind of fervent anticipation typically reserved for players destined to reshape the future of the sport. Yet, the latest revelation, confirming Reinier's assignment to train with Real Madrid Castilla, paints a starkly different picture – one of a once-shining prospect now grappling with the harsh realities of unfulfilled potential.

His arrival from Flamengo, where he had already showcased glimpses of his immense talent with a senior team debut at just 17 and a Campeonato Brasileiro Série A title, fueled the narrative of a future Galáctico. Comparisons, often unfair and premature, were drawn to the likes of Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo, fellow Brazilians who had successfully navigated the challenging transition to European football and carved out roles in Real Madrid’s first team. The plan for Reinier, initially, was to integrate him through Castilla, allowing him to adapt to Spanish football before an inevitable promotion. However, the sheer depth of Real Madrid’s squad and the unique challenges of a global pandemic soon saw him embark on a series of loan spells, intended to accelerate his development and prepare him for the senior team.