Real Madrid have officially confirmed the departure of Reinier Jesus, bringing an end to the Brazilian’s five-year stint with the club.
The 23-year-old arrived in February 2020 amid great excitement, with president Florentino Pérez presenting him at the Santiago Bernabéu following a €30 million transfer from Flamengo. At the time, Reinier spoke of modeling his game on Kaká and was widely considered one of the brightest young prospects in South American football.
However, his time in Madrid never took off. Reinier did not make a single first-team appearance, instead featuring just three times for Castilla — scoring twice against Coruxo — before embarking on a series of loan spells in Spain, Germany, and Italy. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his early adaptation to Europe, and his career trajectory struggled to recover.
After returning from a loan at Granada this summer, the midfielder’s stay at Valdebebas proved brief, with Real Madrid confirming on Friday:
“Real Madrid C.F. and Clube Atlético Mineiro have agreed to the transfer of our player Reinier.
Real Madrid would like to express its gratitude and affection for the years he has spent at the club, and wishes him and his family all the best in this new stage of his life.”
In a farewell message, Reinier expressed nothing but appreciation for Los Blancos:
“At 18, I landed in Spain to fulfill my childhood dream. The club that made all this possible was none other than Real Madrid, the greatest in the world and my team since I was a child. In these five years, I learned and grew as a person and as a professional. I end my contract with a heart full of pride, gratitude, and a clear conscience.”
With his move to Atlético Mineiro, Reinier will now look to revive a career that began with so much promise in the white shirt — even if that shirt was worn only once at his presentation.