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Transfer Profile: Jonatan Ferriera Reis

Jonatan, Jonatan Ferreira Reis

Busan IPark have completed their pre-season business with the capture of Brazilian attacker Jonatan Ferriera Reis on a free transfer, completing the team's quota of foreign players. KLU's Todd Wilde takes a closer look at the career of this left-field signing from the Thai League, whom comes with questions surrounding his attitude at previous clubs, but with the undoubted potential to be an explosive option in the K League 1. (Image courtesy of Busan IPark)


Brazil

Jonatan Ferreira Reis was born on June 30th 1989 in Codó, a small provincial city in Maranhão state. Reis had a journeyman career in Brazil, never registering more than ten appearances for any club in his home country, including spells at Mamoré and Serie B side Ipatinga. His most productive stint in Brazilian football came in 2015, where at the age of 26 he produced a run of four goals in six games at Serie D level for capital club Gama. Reis' record in Brazil stands at 5 goals in 31 games.

Thailand

Reis' unremarkable domestic career gave no indication of the success he would have in Thailand, as Reis matured and developed quickly after a move to Asia, as regular gametime allowed the striker to consistently find the net for the first time in his career. Reis was signed by Thai third tier side Kasetsart University in the summer of 2016, and hit the ground running with eight goals to help steer his side to promotion to the Thai League 2. Playing as a centre forward, Reis was the league's top scorer with 28 goals for the newly promoted side in 2017, as Kasetsart flirted with relegation but survived largely thanks to his exploits up front.

This form aroused the interest of PR Prachuap, and in 2018 Reis once again carried the goalscoring threat of a newly promoted side, this time in the top division of Thai football. Reis was phenomenal in 2018, scoring 26 goals and bagging six assists in a breakout season, finishing as the league's second top scorer as Prachuap barely missed out on an Asian Champions League spot. Netting half of the team's goals, Reis was named in the Thai League 1 team of the season having predominantly played on the right wing, becoming as well known for his skillful build up play as his lethal finishing.


Reis opted to push for a transfer to fellow Thai League 1 side Suphanburi in the 2019 off season, but suffered a hugely disappointing spell at the side, finding the goal just four times in 16 games before being loaned out to Thai League 2 side BG Pathum United. Reis made easy work of the second division, scoring seven times in 12 games for the side that was eventually crowned league champions. Reis was recalled by his parent club as they battled relegation in the closing stages of the season, with Jonatan netting four more times as Suphanburi avoided relegation on a technicality.

The Player

Reis impressed most playing for PR Prachuap, where he built his reputation as a versatile attacking threat in a dangerous counter-attacking side. He chiefly operated as a right winger in 2018, however was often used throughout the front line on devastating counter attacks, drifting into the centre to play as an inside forward off target man Lonsana Doumbouya. Adept at controlling the ball with both feet, Reis often uses skill to bamboozle opposing wingbacks, running at players with the ball from wide positions, whilst showing a penchant for getting into more central positions off the ball in the final third. At 185cm tall, the Brazilian is a physical threat in dead ball situations.

Reis in action at Prachuap
 
For long stretches of the 2017 and 2019 season Reis was mainly utilisied as an out-and-out striker, largely due to his ability to score a variety of goals including long range screamers, headers and short range finishes from narrow angles. However, Reis has been described as a player that requires the service of a reliable target man to be at his most effective, and was observed dropping deep frequently for Suphanburi when receiving a lack of service up front. Fortunately, Busan has the perfect foil in Korean international Lee Jeong-hyeop, whom often drops deep to start attacks and facilitate the runs of K League 2 MVP Lee Dong-jun, certain to start on the right wing. Reis has a golden opportunity to break into an IPark side that had no threat of a similar quality on the left wing in 2019, and he will likely compete with veteran Han Ji-ho, trusted substitute Kwon Yong-hyun and fellow newcomer Kim Byung-oh for gametime in this position.

What to Watch

Does Reis have the temperament to succeed in Korea?

Unfortunately, Reis leaves Thailand amidst unpleasant rumours of unprofessional conduct regarding his attitude. Reis reportedly turned up unfit to pre-season training in 2019 and struggled to regain full fitness throughout the season, after allegedly going on strike to force through a move to Suphanburi from Prachaup at the end of the 2018 season. On one occasion playing for Prachaup in 2018, Reis stormed off the pitch in tears after being denied the chance to take a penalty, forcing his coach into a substitution and raising questions over Jonatan's attributes as a team player.

It is worth noting that Busan has a recent history of signing players whose attitide prevented their talent from shining. Their disappointing 2018 season was marked by a string of poor foreign signings that were unable to make an impact, highlighted most of all by mercurial Brazilian Jonathan Balotelli. The striker looked a cut above any other player on the pitch at times during his short run in the team, but was released from his contract early by the IPark board after unprofessional conduct off the pitch. However, Reis should take comfort that if he is prepared to concentrate on football and wait for his opportunity to break into this talented IPark side, there is an avenue to the first team - and to the IPark fans affections. Fan favourite Rômulo and last season's foreign signings Diego Mauricio, Alexsandar Susjnar and Soma Novothny were all heralded for their professional and committed attitude in the club's promotion run, and all received ample opportunities to make their mark in the side.

It will be an intriguing sub plot of Busan's season to see whether coach Cho Duk-jae can harness the exciting potential of new signings Reis and Gustavo Vintencino, whom comes with disciplinary questions of his own after getting sent off three times for Ansan last season. It is hoped that Reis can repeat the successes he had with promoted sides at Prachuap and Kasetsart, however the striker will need to be patient and maintain a high level of professionalism if he is to have a successful first season in the Korean top flight.

With many thanks to Gian Chansrichawla, Paul Murphy and Grant Aitken for their insights from Thailand.


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