Profile: Who is Nuno Reis, Mohun Bagan's latest foreign recruit?

Nuno Reis will join his teammate from Melbourne City FC in Mohun Bagan.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant have secured Portuguese defender Nuno Reis in a surprising last-moment move. The 33-year-old has signed a free transfer deal, after playing for three years with A-League giants Melbourne City FC.

The move was sudden for most of the fans, with minimum speculations as multiple reports suggested that the star stopper had agreed to join Indian Super League (ISL) debutants Mohammedan Sporting Club. But, it was the Mariners who had the last laugh in this deal.

This signing will strengthen the backline of Mohun Bagan, just before their first AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two) game, scheduled on September 18 against Tajik League team Ravshan Kulob.

It must be noted that Nuno Reis is not a replacement for any foreign player of the Mohun Bagan side, but the seventh non-Indian player to be registered for the ACL Two squad only for the time being. On that note, let’s have a look at the player’s career and impact expected:

Prior Experience

The veteran centre-back started his youth career with the famous Portuguese club Sporting CP. Rising through the ranks, he entered the club’s U-19 team in 2008. Soon, in 2010 he was loaned out for two years to Belgian Club Cercle Brugge.

Reis’ biggest achievement has to be his international career, as he captained the Portugal U-20 side to second place at the 2011 U-20 FIFA World Cup, playing every minute of every match for his team in Colombia. He also debuted for the Portugal U-21s on 5th September of the same year, coming on as a substitute for João Pereira in the 62nd minute of a 1–0 friendly victory over France.

In 2012 he returned to his parent club but they loaned him out once again; this time to fellow Portuguese club SC Olhanense, where he played for a year, before joining his boyhood club Sporting CP’s reserve side again.  Then, after six months he moved to Cercle Brugge again. After spending a short six months in Belgium, he rejoined the reserve side to spend his next one year till 2015.

ALSO READ: Mohun Bagan bolster defense by signing Nuno Reis

In 2015, Nuno Reis had a permanent move out of Sporting CP for the first time, when he joined French side FC Metz on a free deal. After a year there, he moved to Greece and signed with Panathinaikos in the summer of 2016. After playing for a fair two years in Greece, he moved back to his nation and joined Vitoria Setubal.

Just after half a year in Portugal, he moved to Bulgarian club Levski Sofia for a fee of £200,000. He spent a couple of years in Bulgaria, having an impressive stint with the club. After his contract ended with the club in 2020, he was left free and stayed without any club for a half-year period.

In January 2021, he joined his last club Melbourne City FC and stayed for the longest time (three years), before his present move to Mohun Bagan. With Melbourne City, he spent his best days, playing in 93 games, like a strong wall in the defense. Reis also had a knack for goal contributions in Australia, scoring one and providing four assists.

His other impressive stints were with Cercle Brugge, Sporting CP B, and Levski Sofia, where he played more than 50 games for all of them.

Type of Player

Nuno Miguel Pereira Reis is a 1.82 m tall right-footed centre-back, who can efficiently contribute as a defensive midfielder too. Besides excelling in these two positions, he can also cater as a right-back when needed.

Nuno has played in over 200 games as a centre-back effectively while contributing in 30 matches as a defensive midfielder and 19 as a side-back. His defensive awareness is good, along with his tackles. His other strong points are his aggression, interception, strength, and jumping ability.

What does he bring to the team?

Mohun Bagan were in dire need of a quality centre-back, after their weak defense seemed exposed in the Durand Cup final and the ISL 2024-25 campaign opener against Mumbai City FC. The club’s backline looked mediocre following the controversial departure of star Indian centre-back Anwar Ali.

Now with the inclusion of Nuno Reis, the defensive gaps seem to fill. Without a strong defender with a defender with good stamina, the chances of excelling looked bleak in ACL Two. But, now with Reis included, Jose Francisco Molina might feel assured.

Reis, together with Subhasish Bose, Tom Aldred, and Alberto Rodriguez will be a defensive force to reckon with in the upcoming ACL Two. However, he may not be played in his natural position as a centre-back, but tried as a defensive midfielder with Bose, Aldred, and Rodriguez at the back, as the Mariners play a three-man back-line now.

💥 Boom 💥 We have a new Mariner in town! Let’s welcome Nuno Reis! 💚♥️#MBSG #JoyMohunBagan #আমরাসবুজমেরুন pic.twitter.com/qgoCcgLWxa

— Mohun Bagan Super Giant (@mohunbagansg) September 15, 2024

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