Mexico international Diego Reyes (#5) will spend the 2015/16 club season with Spain's Real Sociedad. (Photo: Mexsport)
SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain – Fresh off winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup title with Mexico, Diego Reyes was officially presented as a Real Sociedad player on Thursday.
The 22-year-old defender, who won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games, was loaned for a year to the La Liga side by Portugal’s Porto last month.
"I aim to give the very best I can give for the team – the team is the most important thing,” said Reyes to the assembled media. “After that, I hope to achieve great things with this club. The objective is for Real Sociedad to return to European competition but for now, I am just delighted to be here in San Sebastián, in a wonderful city and a great club.”
Reyes’ development has been on an upward trajectory since making his senior national team debut as an 18-year-old at the 2011 Copa America. After four years with Club America, in 2013, he moved to Porto, where he appeared in two UEFA Champions League and four Europa League games.
Despite his youth, Reyes has already played in every FIFA national team-related competition for which he is eligible: U-17 World Cup (3 games, 2009), U-20 World Cup (7 games, 2011), Olympic Games (6 games, 2012), Confederations Cup (1 game, 2013) and World Cup (1 game, 2014).
He is looking forward to taking the next step in his burgeoning career in Spain.
"Here I can grow as a player and as a person and my intention is to do that at this great club, in this great city,” the 25-timed capped Reyes finished. “Real Sociedad are one of the best sides in La Liga and I am very happy to have this opportunity. My plan is simply to win my place, enjoy this experience and enjoy what I love best which is playing football.”
Reyes has also won CONCACAF championships at the under-17 (2009), under-20 (2011) and under-23 (2012) levels.