USMNT star left off September roster

In an eyebrow-raising move, U.S. Men's National Team manager Gregg Berhalter has left Borussia Dortmund midfielder Gio Reyna off his roster for upcoming friendlies against Uzbekistan and Oman.

Per multiple media reports, Berhalter sidelined the star because of a lingering calf injury.

Vanity Fair recently reported Berhalter and Reyna have not been in contact since the World Cup in Qatar late last year. 

After the tournament, in response to their son's lack of playing time and subsequent lack of effort in training, Reyna's parents publicly criticized the coach. They later revealed to U.S. Soccer that Berhalter was involved in a domestic violence incident with his wife in 1992, when the two were teens. 

Reyna's parents played for United States National Soccer teams and had a personal relationship with Berhalter.

Reyna, who injured his calf in the CONCACAF Nations League Final in June, has yet to feature for Dortmund this season but returned to training last Thursday.

The USMNT's first match of the upcoming international window is against Uzbekistan on Sept. 9. By that point, Reyna will have had over two weeks of training under his belt, and will likely be featured in Friday's Bundesliga match against Heidenheim. 

It is not 100% clear whether Berhalter is being cautious with Reyna returning from injury or seeking more time to try and reconcile with him after their post-World Cup fallout. 

Berhalter said he has been engaging with "experts in mediation" to try to rebuild his relationship with Reyna. 

The next opportunity for Reyna to play for Berhalter and the USMNT will be in October, when the American will play high-profile friendlies against Germany and Ghana.

This is a critical period for the future of U.S. Soccer. Many have described the current group, led by Reyna, AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic, Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun, Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams, and countless other players staring in Europe, as the USMNT's "golden generation."

Reyna is one of the most talented players in the program's history, and the USMNT needs him to reach its full potential. Berhalter must do whatever he can to ensure Reyna's future with the United States.