CHICAGO — U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said men’s team manager Gregg Berhalter and midfielder Giovanni Reyna have communicated in an effort to move forward in their relationship, with Reyna set to be called into the next camp he’s healthy enough to attend.
Speaking at a roundtable with reporters, Crocker said: “I think both Greg and Gio are in a good place to move forward.”
Neither Crocker nor a U.S. spokesperson elaborated further on the nature of the meeting, other than to say that Berhalter and Reyna spoke “recently.”
Berhalter and Reyna hadn’t spoken since a feud involving the two families spilled into public view last December. As recently as Aug. 29, Berhalter said he had yet to meet with Reyna, but the two have now communicated, clearing the way for the two to work together again.
Crocker added: “Clearly there’s been a lot of emotions over the last 12 months. The common connection is they both want the program to be successful and that’s the starting point and there’s a clear way forward, a professional way of working and they’re both ready.”
The relationship between Berhalter and Reyna has been under immense strain for much of the last year, and first began to fray at the 2022 World Cup when Berhalter informed Reyna that he wouldn’t have a starting role with the U.S. in Qatar. Reyna reacted poorly, and sulked so much that Berhalter contemplated sending the midfielder home.
An intervention among Berhalter, the team’s senior leadership and Reyna saw the player’s attitude improve, though Reyna continued to play sparingly, logging a total of just 52 minutes at the tournament.
