Reinildo's unexpected dance: a 'low cost' signing that has shielded Atlético and an icon in Mozambique after overcoming his family drama

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Yesterday, on the green of Cerro del Espino de Majadahonda, Diego Pablo Simeone spoke with Reinildo Isnard Mandava (Beira, Mozambique, 1994).

The Argentine coach was well above what is today one of his defensive pillars.

The purpose of the talk was to try to increase his speed in passing the ball.

The African winger / central defender, defensively irreducible days ago against the threatening Manchester City, at the Etihad Stadium, was the protagonist in one of the best combinations of his team.

An offensive spark sprung from his throw-in at the first touch with which the rojiblancos evaded the suffocating pressure from

's team .

again and again.

.

It was, despite the defeat, the night that showed the world everything that is inside.

A City security employee asked if he could take a picture with him.

Reinildo gladly accepted.

He had just climbed another rung in his career.

He had promised his father that way before he died, when he was only 11 years old.

A little over two months have passed since his signing for Atlético, on the last day of the winter market (January 31), and Reinildo, who physically had nothing to improve, but tactically, has become an essential ingredient for

.

"It is not easy to arrive in January and beat the coach in such a short time, and much more playing defense," they recognize from the rojiblanco club.

With the three million euros paid to French Lille (Reinildo's contract ended in June), Atlético has managed to cement its wall and have a reliable left back in matters of containment.

Also, as the defense himself acknowledges, recruiting

of fans.

The inhabitants of Mozambique, where he has become an icon and example for many kids who see football as a salvation.

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Simeone, the lesson from Munich (2020) and Mou's inspiration who articulated the defensive plan against City

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Simeone, the lesson from Munich (2020) and Mou's inspiration who articulated the defensive plan against City

"Everyone knows my story. How I started, how I walked 50 minutes to go to training. I left training tired, hungry, knowing I wasn't going to eat. I got over it and now I'm here," he was honest in a recent interview. with the Marca newspaper.

Shortly before traveling to Europe, emigrating to Portugal, at the age of 21, he lost his mother.

He went to the Benfica subsidiary, in 2016, multiplying the 30 euros that he earned on his land.

A team where they played, to put a name on the table, Luka

, Gonzalo

, Nelson

or Ivan

, who left Atlético in January, a few days before landing in Madrid.

On those dates, the corridors of Benfica's academy were also walked by a very young

, who had exchanged Porto for Lisbon.

Suarez's shirt

With Joao,

,

or

, a priori his rival for the position, and now one of his best supporters, all united by the Portuguese language, he has formed a firm partnership in the locker room.

Also with

, because he speaks French as well as Spanish.

Last week, after the match against Alavés, he asked

for the shirt .

He has landed on his feet in the locker room.

Reinildo has not needed the typical military service that demands putting himself in the hands of

.

Perhaps, also, because of the emergencies behind.

The forcefulness of the African defender, the best left-back in Ligue 1 with Lille, last season's champion, has managed to warm the team's back.

Established in the starting 11 as left-back, the team has conceded five goals in the last nine games, with six consecutive victories in the League, going to the quarterfinals of the Champions League at Old Trafford and the fight, still open, to reach the semi-finals, after frustrate the almighty City for a long time.

His numbers at the Etihad, according to the specialized account Atlético Stats (@atletico_stats) were: 4/4 in tackles, 4/7 in duels won, three recoveries and 80% passing accuracy.

As bad luck would have it,

's lethal delivery to De Bruyne slipped between his legs.

"He has tremendous strength"

In his first start, after the last-minute comeback against Getafe (4-3), at the Metropolitano, two months ago, Reinildo entered the locker room at a thousand revolutions and began to dance.

Specifically, to perform one of those typical dances of his native Mozambique.

It was the best celebration that occurred to him, among other things, because none of the songs that the rest of his classmates sang were known.

Last week, he returned before the rest of the internationals, after completing the matches with his national team.

In training on Cerro del Espino there were boys from the subsidiary and youth, to complete the group.

During the game, he did not hesitate when entering a rival in search of the ball.

"He does not distinguish if he has

or one of the juvenile.

He has tremendous strength and he shows that on the field", they praise him in the club's offices. Although that excess of fire could have cost him dearly against Cádiz, where he saw a red card for a tremendous tackle, which would end up being turned into a yellow card by the VAR."We noticed that his intensity, aggressiveness and defensive involvement could give us options to improve.

From the presence of him, we began to achieve that important defensive strength ", recognized Simeone.

In Mallorca, face to face with former athletics coach

, Reinildo, that rock that has adjusted the red and white bricks, will continue to cover cracks, to the delight of Simeone.

It is what has been baptized as the Reinildo effect.

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