Guardiola's approach has become more serious at Girona: "If he were to harass me, I'd have a problem."

GironaAt 20 years old, Vitor Reis (São José dos Campos, Brazil, 2006) has already experienced more than most people will in a lifetime. "I signed for Palmeiras when I was 10, at 15 I left my parents' house to live in a residence with some of my teammates, and at 16 I became completely independent and moved into my own apartment." The story continues with his debut in the Brasileirão at 18 and a move to a different continent at 19, after Manchester City noticed him and invested nearly 40 million euros. And there's more: six months ago, just before being loaned to Montilivi, also at 19, he got married. "It's a blessing to have my wife by my side. I'm convinced that if it weren't for her, I wouldn't feel so good in Girona." Recently, the couple added a dog to their family.

"Many people are surprised when they find out I'm married. I've been told it's hard to see here, being so young. Maybe it's cultural, because those of us who leave our country early and come to Europe experience things differently. For me, it was the natural step in the relationship." We've been doing what we do for a long time. For now, there's no need to talk to him about children. "Later, later," he replies with a laugh. "Everything I've experienced helps me so that changes aren't so drastic. When I joined Palmeiras, which is a giant club, I was small. And I could never fail. I struggled to grasp that, and it shocked me."

Discovering the reasons why took him quite a while. "The demands are incredibly high at clubs of that magnitude. And it's daily. You're under pressure every single day. But I got used to it over time. It took me a while, but I finally understood it, and now I see it as something positive: if I weren't good at what I do, I wouldn't have that pressure, nobody would demand anything of me." He proudly recalls the family sacrifices so that the youngest from Cal Reis could dedicate himself to playing football. "My father had a stall at the market, and my mother drove me everywhere. We had an hour each way. She always did that." The footballing anomaly was his older brother. He points to his mouth to say that "he's a dentist."

Seleçao, the great dream

"It feels like I've been at Girona longer than I actually have," emphasizes the player with the most points in the LaLiga Fantasy standings for the squad, tied with Gazzaniga. "I don't play. They've created their own league in the locker room and they talk about it every day, but I honestly don't pay any attention." Reyes played in 25 of the 26 possible matches and started in 24. The only match he missed was due to suspension, and the day he didn't start was the league opener, just after arriving. "I'm very happy here. There's a good group and very good people, and that makes it easier," he says. "I feel like I've improved a lot since the summer. I think the style of play has played a big part in that. I really like our approach, and it suits my strengths. Míchel practices a philosophy similar to Guard's."

The Santpedor native confirmed the transfer to the Premier League. "I work hard to eventually play regularly at a big club, like Manchester City. Guardiola's decision to send me there is an honor, and it motivates me to work even harder. I'm very demanding of myself, and if I want to reach the top, that's the right mentality." That "top of everything" includes the Seleção. "I have my sights set on them. Who knows if they'll call me up soon? I leave it in God's hands. It would be a dream come true." Reyes is used to taking on an important role on the field and has even captained the national team at youth level. "All footballers want to play; I'm no exception," he says.

He will visit the Ciudad de Valencia stadium to face Levante (4:15 p.m., Movistar LaLiga) hoping to avenge the own goal that caused the last defeat. "The play was awful, it's true, but I played well that day. I don't dwell on it, it happened and that's it. If it haunted me, I'd have a problem. I believe in being at peace if I know I've done my best, and that doesn't mean I don't make mistakes, it means I gave it my all. I'm frustrated and I keep going over it," he summarizes.

Reyes, who enjoys taking long walks through Girona's Barri Vell ("the cathedral is spectacular," he remarks), is getting a free masterclass in the center-back position. "David López and Blind are incredibly talented. Blind is amazing; with the ball at his feet, he's incredible. We don't talk as much as we would under other circumstances, because neither of us speaks fluent English, but I absorb everything he does because I watch him every training session." With two matchdays clear of relegation, the Brazilian explains that "we have a squad capable of much more, and it's good to be ambitious and aim high, because if we can qualify for Europe, that would be fantastic, but we can't let our guard down because we could also be at the bottom."

And finally, the future. "Nothing is guaranteed. I know I have to return to City in the summer, but I don't know what their plans are for me. We'll have to talk, yes. What I also know is that right now I'm only thinking about Girona, and if the circumstances allow, I'd like to return. If I have to come back next year, I'll do it gladly." Vitor Reyes' words.