Barcelona have Manchester City‘s Vitor Reis on their target list and could have an opportunity to take him away from the Premier League side in the winter market.

The Brazil international first moved to Europe when Manchester City signed him from Palmeiras in January 2025. He finished the second half of the 2024/25 season at the Etihad with only four appearances.

Last summer, Pep Guardiola allowed the centre-back to go out on loan to Girona. The move worked out well for him as he made 38 appearances for the Spanish club. He only missed two La Liga matches because of suspension.

Disappointing spell at Manchester City

Girona dropped to the second division while the 20-year-old returned to the English club. In June, Sport Witness covered a report from Spain that Valencia showed interest in him. However, Enzo Maresca wasn’t in favour of letting the defender leave.

In August, Vitor Reis played a minute in the Citizens’ league win over Crystal Palace. That has been his only Premier League appearance of this season.

Last month, the Brazilian made a substitute appearance in the Champions League win over AEK Athens. Besides these two, he started in two EFL Cup matches this season.

Barcelona could open their door in January and Friday’s edition of Sport covers the latest.

Manchester City man backup option 

Hansi Flick’s side are keen on signing Ruud Nijstad in the next window but aren’t willing to meet FC Twente’s €20m asking price. Therefore, Barca sporting director Deco is keeping other options open, and this is where Vitor Reis comes into the picture.

After enjoying his experience in Spain, the defender returned to the Etihad, where Enzo Maresca hasn’t utilised him.

The newspaper states: ‘His current situation raises questions. This season, he has barely featured under Maresca, a circumstance that could favour another temporary move.’

A permanent move remains unlikely, considering Manchester City are still betting on Reis, whose contract lasts until 2029. Besides this, he’s a right footed centre-back while Barcelona are prioritising a left footed centre-back.

Either way, Deco has the South American on his list and could consider signing him on loan in January.

Sport Witness Analysis: Players to have appeared for both Manchester City and Barcelona

MANCHESTER CITY & BARCELONA Players to have appeared for both men’s first teams

15 players  |  Senior competitive appearances for both clubs

Player	Nationality	Position	Connection between the clubs
Ronnie Ekelund	Denmark	Midfielder	Played for Barcelona’s first team in 1993/94 before a loan spell at City in 1995/96.
Geovanni	Brazil	Attacking midfielder	Barcelona player from 2001 to 2003; joined City in 2007 after spells at Benfica and Cruzeiro.
Sylvinho	Brazil	Left-back	Moved directly from Barcelona to City in 2009, spending his final playing season in Manchester.
Yaya Touré	Ivory Coast	Midfielder	Joined City from Barcelona in 2010 and remained in Manchester until 2018.
Denis Suárez	Spain	Midfielder	Made senior League Cup appearances for City before joining Barcelona B in 2013; later played for Barça’s first team.
Claudio Bravo	Chile	Goalkeeper	Joined City directly from Barcelona in 2016 and stayed until 2020.
Nolito	Spain	Winger	Made five Barcelona first-team appearances; later joined City from Celta Vigo for the 2016/17 season.
Eric García	Spain	Centre-back	Left Barcelona’s academy for City in 2017, made his senior debut in Manchester and returned to Barça in 2021.
Sergio Agüero	Argentina	Striker	Joined Barcelona in 2021 after ten years at City; made five competitive Barça appearances before retiring.
Ferran Torres	Spain	Forward	Played for City from 2020 before moving directly to Barcelona in January 2022.
İlkay Gündoğan	Germany	Midfielder	Left City for Barcelona in 2023, then returned to Manchester after one season in Spain.
João Cancelo	Portugal	Full-back	Joined City in 2019; spent 2023/24 on loan at Barcelona and returned to Barça from Al Hilal in 2026.
Nico González	Spain	Midfielder	Made his Barcelona first-team debut in 2021; joined City from Porto in February 2025.
Rodri	Spain	Defensive midfielder	Moved directly from City to Barcelona in August 2026 after seven years in Manchester.
Gabriel Jesus	Brazil	Forward	Played for City from 2017 to 2022; joined Barcelona from Arsenal in September 2026.

Common exclusions: Gai Assulin made no senior appearances for City. Adrià Bernabé played for City’s first team but not Barcelona’s. Pablo Moreno and Juan Larios do not qualify through senior competitive appearances for both clubs.

Scope: Men’s first-team competitive appearances for both Manchester City and FC Barcelona. Domestic cup appearances count, even where a player made no league appearances. Academy, reserve-team and friendly appearances alone do not qualify. Players are listed broadly by when they first appeared for the second of the two clubs.
Updated: 13 November 2026.

SPORT WITNESS