Manchester City are still making Vitor Reis wait for regular football, but Carlo Ancelotti clearly has no problem trusting the 20-year-old.
The defender has played just 91 minutes for City this season, yet Brazil called him up again for the current international break. More importantly, he finally got his first start, playing alongside Marquinhos in the 1-1 draw with Australia.
Vitor Reis isn’t complaining about the situation at the Etihad. Quite the opposite. He says simply being around Enzo Maresca’s squad every day is pushing him forward.
Waiting for his Manchester City chance
Speaking to ESPN Brazil, Vitor Reis made it clear he knows exactly what he needs to do while waiting for more opportunities.
“At City, I learn a lot every day. I know I’m working hard to get my opportunities and, when they come, I have to show my football.”
“But I think it’s a huge club, so there’s not much else to say. There are players who help me grow a lot every day, because you have to be very good in training.”
So far, his opportunities have been limited. He played the full match against Norwich City in the League Cup and got one minute against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
That hasn’t stopped Ancelotti from keeping him around Brazil’s senior squad. The manager has previously made it clear he can call young players he likes even when they aren’t getting regular club football.
For Vitor Reis, that faith has now resulted in a first international start.
“It’s difficult to even believe I’m with the Brazilian national team, isn’t it? Because it’s a dream every kid has,” he said.
“We start playing football in Brazil thinking about the national team. So I think it’s a reason for a lot of happiness. It’s very rewarding for me to see everything that’s happening in my life.”
“I was also very happy to make my debut alongside Marquinhos, who’s an idol of mine. It’s a very happy moment for me.”
From a 3am phone call to starting for Brazil
The whole Brazil story started in slightly chaotic fashion, as we covered at the time. Vitor Reis received his first senior call-up in March, while playing on loan at Girona. The problem was that he was asleep when everyone started trying to tell him.
Ancelotti later included him in Brazil’s 55-man preliminary squad for the World Cup. Vitor Reis didn’t make the final selection, but he says there was no great disappointment.
“No, I wasn’t frustrated about not being in the final squad for the 2026 World Cup. It was fine.”
“I think the expectation came from being in the preliminary squad, but I was happier about having been called up before and being in that preliminary squad than I was frustrated, you know?”
“I was very happy at the time. I wanted to be at the World Cup, of course, but I don’t think that was my moment. It wasn’t meant to be my moment. One day, God willing, that moment will come.”
His second call-up suggests he remains in Ancelotti’s thinking.
Getting involved with the squad
Back in Manchester, Vitor Reis also continues to learn from some fairly useful training partners.
He previously spoke about what he had learned from Ruben Dias and Erling Haaland during his first spell at City. This time, he revealed a little more about the Norwegian away from the serious stuff.
“Haaland is a nice guy. He jokes around a lot, he’s really friendly with everyone. He likes joking with everyone and talking to everyone.”
In the end, Vitor Reis isn’t getting much football under Maresca yet, but Brazil’s faith in him hasn’t disappeared.
His message is simple too. He is learning, waiting and working. When City finally give him a proper chance, he knows he needs to take it.
