There is a story that is revealed about Tijjani Reijnders. Barcelona wanted to sign him, but he chose AC Milan. After the decision, Rendez and others said he was attracted by the tradition of the Dutch masters in Milan.

There is some truth. Reijnders is a keen gaming student, followed by Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit and Marco Van Basten of San Siro. But it's not just romance. He pointed out that Barcelona did not have a clear plan for him.

Tactically, he wanted to know what the idea was and how they imagined that he fits in the system. Milan sells this vision more clearly. The story feels very relevant when Reijnders are linked to part of the reconstruction of Manchester City in Pep Guardiola and the moves of the Premier League.

Fortunately for players and clubs, it is obvious that Reijnders have the traits that the city missed last season. He is perfect for calming balls as a passer and as a ball stand, but his ball run also brings a lack of energy.

Over the past two seasons, Natherlands International, 26, has improved his reputation and was recently named Serie A midfielder of the year. Manchester City will be an acceleration, but some think he can help Guardiola make a difference.

The former Manchester City defender Michel Vonk coached at the age group Reijnders while developing the game in Alkmaar, Arizona. Speech Sky movementWalker talked about a "technical, creative player who can play key passes and score goals" - ideal.

"He is a great kid, passionate about the game and loves his football. He has a great motivation to go to the ball." This is something Guardiola has prioritized recently, determining the need for his midfielder to break the line.

The signatures of Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and even Nico Gonzalez reflect this to some extent, with different successes so far. But Reijnders ticks a series of boxes and seems to have a skill that can help him contribute in a variety of different ways.

Last season, he ranked in the top 20 players among Serie A players, which were scored from open-ended matches, opportunities created, passes completed in the final third inning, dribbling completion and defensive interception. Then, a full midfielder's logo.

Reijnders made his final contribution, namely defensive contribution, when he was young. "His defense is a weakness, but he has developed a lot of games for Arizona, Milan and the Netherlands national teams," Walker revealed.

When he spoke to Pascal Jansen last summer about Reijnders, he explained how the players were waiting for his chance at Arizona midfielder. "He has the ability to play 10, but he is not as good as the midfielder there. He has to be patient," Jansen told him. Sky movement.

Jansen recalls a conversation in the summer of 2021 in particular. Reijnders was 23 in July that year, but was just starting to establish his mark in the starting lineup after Jansen replaced Arne Slot more regularly in the middle of that season.

“He came to me and said, ‘Coach, I played 50% of the time, but I need more.” I told him that the impact he had at the end of that season had to be the standard for next season.

Teun Koopmeiners headed to Atalanta's departure, in the midfield, and the Reijnders were impressive. "He took off and never looked back. He just kept moving forward." His position on the side was never involved again. The progress has always been constant.

"I've seen him grow. He's progressing so.

"Once he goes in, he improves every day. Just come out and feel the confidence of his coach and team, he matures. He has all the tools, but that's the opportunity to show them what he delivers. He has a bigger impact.

"He's very important in the accumulation phase. He can feel that he needs to support Jordy Clasie in depth. But he's also able to carry the ball, provide assists and shoot from distance and scoring goals. He's become very productive."

Reijnders scored six goals and then seven goals in two full seasons under Jansen. It seems simple, but the fact that he scored Milan 15 times on 2024/25 shows that a player is adding more and more to his game.

With Kevin de Bruyne disappearing, Manchester City needs to increase their midfield goals. Ilkay Gundogan won the game on the final day of the season, but there wasn't enough practice in his second spell at the club. A late runner who is active in the midfield is welcome.

The challenge next season will be to look forward or backward. Is Guardiola looking to restore some of the key principles that turn the city into a serial winner, or is the perspective of the growing Premier League that he must adapt to reflect this?

Reijnders seem to have a proper balance. He is a Dutchman, his young idol idol, and even wore a number 14 shirt known as Johan Cruyff, Guardiola's mentor. He can play the property game that the city prefers.

But he can change things, too. Guardiola knows that the midfielder's aging quartet is seeing City in the back end of the season is a short-term fix. Reijnders can revitalize the city in the middle of the court, bringing the energy Jansen talks about.

"The interesting thing about Tijjani is that he is always smiling. You can see him in his body language when he enjoys himself. I'm curious about how his adaptation phase develops in Milan, but I can see from his body language that he does a great job.

"When he moved to Milan, I could see the same tijjani in different environments and improve myself again. His family has been supporting him and encouraged him to reach his potential. They pushed him well."

Although Jensen talked about Rendez's "very stable and calm personality", Funke also mentioned "stable family life" which should help him adapt to his next exam. This will be an important step for players. Perhaps it is an important step towards building a new Manchester City.

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