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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
RC Strasbourg had promised an ambitious off-season. Two weeks before the start of Ligue 1, the picture is less flattering. Defeated in a friendly, deprived of their flagship signing still in the physical adaptation phase, the Alsatians are approaching the final stretch of their preparation with an incomplete squad and faltering automatisms. The assessment made by Foot Mercato this weekend is unequivocal: Racing is already struggling. After a 2025-2026 season finished in the middle of the table, the Alsatian club hoped to use the summer to lay more solid foundations. For now, the project looks more like a minefield.
Giovanni Reyna, the symbol of a transfer window that is taking its time
The 23-year-old American international arrived in Alsace in early August, made official by the club on August 4 with a contract running until 2031.
The 23-year-old American international arrived in Alsace in early August, made official by the club on August 4 with a contract running until 2031. Arriving from Borussia Mönchengladbach for around three million euros, Reyna wears the number 13 and is meant to embody Strasbourg's offensive renewal. The club is banking on his versatility: capable of playing as a support striker or out wide, he brings a creativity that was sorely missed last season. But the attacking midfielder, who has a history of physical issues since his Dortmund years, is still not available.
The medical staff is proceeding with caution. At 23, after a 2025-2026 season disrupted in the Bundesliga — 19 matches, just one goal, recurring hamstring problems — Reyna needs to regain a competitive rhythm without rushing. The examinations carried out upon his arrival revealed no structural damage, but his lack of summer preparation requires an individualized program. His first appearance in the Alsatian jersey could come in the final pre-season match against Newcastle, scheduled for August 16. Nothing is guaranteed.
Mudryk, the resurrection gamble
Another case is stirring the corridors of the Meinau. Mykhailo Mudryk, the Ukrainian winger suspended for more than eighteen months for a positive test for meldonium, could make his return to competition in Strasbourg colors. The Chelsea player, who has not set foot on a pitch in an official match since December 2024, is looking for an environment that can offer him playing time without the immediate exposure of the Premier League. His speed and ability to beat a man one-on-one remain rare assets.
Strasbourg, which maintains close ties with the London club through its ownership structure, appears as a natural destination. The two entities share shareholders and a development philosophy. Mudryk's arrival would change the game offensively, but also raises legitimate questions: in what physical condition would a player who has been away from the pitch for more than a year and a half arrive? Ligue 1, more physical than ever, does not forgive rushed returns.
A squad in disarray
Beyond individual cases, it is collective coherence that raises questions. The defeat conceded in the last friendly exposed defensive shortcomings and a lack of cohesion between the lines. The team block, which had shown encouraging signs at the end of last season, seems to have dissolved during the break. The Alsatian staff, aware of the accumulated delay, is counting on hosting Newcastle to build momentum. The Magpies, seasoned by their European campaign, will offer a full-scale test.
But the schedule is tight: Ligue 1 resumes without waiting, and the first official fixtures will not forgive a prolonged settling-in period. Strasbourg supporters, burned by a previous season that fell short of expectations, hope that the promises of the transfer window will quickly translate into points in the standings. The stage is set. It remains to be seen whether the actors will be ready to take the stage.