This Dortmund teenager has slipped down a crowded centre-back order

Football can turn fast on a teenager. Luca Reggiani is finding that out this month.

A few good weeks from a rival have narrowed his path. Filippo Mane is the man who has climbed above him in the pecking order. The 21-year-old shook off a hamstring problem, impressed all through pre-season, and caught Kovač's eye.

Reggiani is the Italian centre-back Dortmund fans warmed to last season. Injuries elsewhere handed him eight first-team games. He even won a senior Italy cap in June. That is rare air for a teenager. Few 18-year-olds earn a senior cap that young.

Stuck in a queue of 'traffic'

Count the bodies ahead of him. Nico Schlotterbeck is first choice once fit. Waldemar Anton and Ramy Bensebaini hold the back three together. Joane Gadou, a summer signing, is pushing hard. Mane now sits above Reggiani as well.

None of the men ahead are leaving soon, either. Anton and Bensebaini are nailed on. Gadou arrived to stay.

That is a lot of bodies to climb over. For an 18-year-old, the road to regular minutes looks blocked. Schlotterbeck's return only pushes him further down the list. When everyone is fit, Reggiani sits nowhere near the matchday squad.

None of this is a knock on Reggiani. He did little wrong. The queue simply got longer. Dortmund's squad got deeper.

Loan or reserves? Neither is a disaster

So what happens now? WAZ lays out two roads. Reggiani plays for the reserves in the Regionalliga, or he heads out on loan.

BVB Buzz has already floated a few landing spots, and Serie A looks the likely direction. The site also linked an Italy return as the competition tightened.

Serie A clubs are watching closely. His stock jumped the moment he pulled on the Italy shirt. A loan back home could suit everyone.

An 18-year-old cannot grow on the bench. He needs games, hard tackles, and a few rough afternoons to learn from.

Reggiani gets to play. Dortmund keep hold of a promising asset. The academy line keeps ticking over, which is the whole point of this club.

Black and Yellow fans have seen this story before. A gem waits, then breaks through.

Verdict: Reggiani is too good a prospect to gather dust in the stands, and a season-long loan with a firm recall clause is the smart next move for player and club.