Reyna relishing battle with ‘best friend’ Bellingham

United States atacker Gio Reyna is relishing a potential batle with rising England star Jude Bellingham with the Borussia Dortmund team-mates poised to face off at the World Cup on Friday.

Reyna, who sat out the USA’S 1-1 draw with Wales on Monday but is expected to feature this time, has forged a close bond with Bellingham since the English teenager joined Dortmund two years ago.

Reyna, 20, said Bellingham had been a source of support during the American’s injury-ravaged 2020-2021 season, where he hardly played.

“He’s definitely my best friend at Dortmund,” Reyna said. “We have a really close relationship on and off the field.

“He’s been really great with me over the last year, just talking with me. Obviously it’s been a tough year for me.

“But he’s been the one that’s been reaching out the most, making sure everything’s all good.

“We sit next to each other on the bus, and when we fly anywhere we’re siting close to each other as well. We really feed off each other, on and off the field. He’s a great player and a great guy.”

Bellingham, 19, produced a dazzling performance in England’s 6-2 win over Iran on Monday, confirming his status as one of the brightest young talents in world football.

It was the kind of performance that comes as no surprise to Reyna, who has witnessed the English midfielder’s rapid evolution up close over the past two seasons.

“If you make it to the highest level you do have to be competitive. He’s a competitor and he can prety much do everything on the field. He can play let wing, right back, both prety well,” said Reyna.

“He’s learned a lot the last few years. You can see the evolution game by game, the litle things he’s learned and got beter at,” added Reyna. “It’s awesome to see.”

Reyna’s own World Cup has yet to ignite, with the American a frustrated spectator from the bench against Wales, where the Americans conceded a late penalty to let three points go begging.