From a rising talent to the bench, with the concrete prospect of changing clubs in January. Luca Reggiani has disappeared from Borussia Dortmund’s radar. The 18-year-old from Modena, who came through Sassuolo’s youth academy, had been regularly used by coach Niko Kovac in the second half of last season, making eight appearances in total, six of them as a starter.
Now, however, the young defender has slipped down the pecking order, having been overtaken by Joane Gadou. The 19-year-old Frenchman, signed from Salzburg in July for a fee just under €20 million, has in fact immediately become a key figure in the Black and Yellows’ defence, playing as the right-sided centre-back and, above all, occupying the position that, until just a few months ago, belonged to Reggiani, as relayed via Calcio Mercato.
The player born in 2008 has so far played only two matches for the first team, both at the beginning of September: against Hebc Hamburg in the German Cup and against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, for a total of 50 minutes on the pitch. From that point onwards, he dropped out of the rotation, without being given the opportunity to play in any of the following five matches contested by Dortmund in the Bundesliga and Champions League. A meagre tally, unexpected in many respects, especially in light of the positive impact Reggiani had at the beginning of the year, after being brought into the first team because of Emre Can’s injury and Niklas Sule’s less than ideal physical condition.
Reggiani played in Borussia Dortmund’s last two second-team matches in Germany’s fourth division and, after taking to the pitch against Fulham in the Under-21 Premier International Cup on 26 August, today (20 October) he starts against Sabah in the UEFA Youth League, before being substituted at half-time with the score still 0-0.
Within just a few weeks, Reggiani managed to achieve a dream hat-trick last spring: his league debut in the match won against Wolfsburg, a starting place in the Champions League against Atalanta and, finally, his first Bundesliga goal, scored against Augsburg. His outstanding performances had prompted fans to consider him nothing less than the new Mats Hummels, given his particular ability to build play from the back. Consequently, despite receiving various offers during the transfer window, Reggiani pushed to remain at Dortmund and try to earn a leading role under Kovac. The relationship between the two has remained good in recent weeks. However, rather than increasing, his playing time has decreased to the point of prompting Reggiani to look around and consider the possibility of leaving during the winter transfer window.
AC Milan continue to monitor Reggiani:
Several clubs have begun following him. Milan are among them, having entered the race following the serious injury sustained by Matteo Gabbia, who will return in the latter part of 2027. Reggiani, in particular, is a profile that the Rossoneri like very much: young, physically well-built and with considerable room for development. A move to the Premier League is also possible, given the strong interest shown in him by Southampton. Everything will depend on what happens between now and December. Reggiani is happy at Dortmund but wants more playing time to continue developing.
