Ryan Reynolds who wanted to be crazier than his friends and promises to bring Paris to Vila Verde

The last day of the transfer market is usually intense. Journalists work hard to cross-reference sources and confirm deals, clubs race against time to sign reinforcements and fans browse the newspapers and club pages to see the new faces of the teams.

In between, there are deals that were just a «black nail» away from being closed, others achieved at the deadline and even unusual stories. In January, Portuguese football received, perhaps, the most unlikely reinforcement in its recent history.

Courtney Reum reinforced Länk Vilaverdense, but the truth is that little was known about the North American who appeared as a Minho player on the League’s website.

A brief Google search revealed that Courtney was an apparently successful businessman, with around 300,000 followers on the social network Instagram and brother-in-law of American celebrity Paris Hilton, who is married to Carter Reum.

But, where does football fit into this North American’s life? The only records available pointed to experience in college football in the late 90s. Experience at professional level was… non-existent.

Little by little, Courtney revealed her veil, showed herself training and even announced that she was joining the team in May. But in what role? Would he really join the squad and, at the age of 45, play in the II League or just help the club that has been in a weak financial situation since the beginning of the season?

The American businessman arrived in Portugal last weekend, still in time to help save the team from relegation. O More football He followed, for a morning, behind the scenes of Courtney’s preparation, trying to understand how a 45-year-old striker, who has never played professionally, can fit into a team that has the “noose around its throat”.

«I’m here for many reasons, but it’s like making a dream come true. 20 years ago, I wanted to do it, but I couldn’t, due to injuries and some technical skills. When I graduated, I had a good job opportunity… personally, it’s a fun dream. I like to challenge myself and see what my limits are”, he begins by explaining to our newspaper and the TVI/CNN Portugal.

Courtney, however, admits that his goal is to help the club on a monetary level. «I want to help the team. I hope I can contribute in some way on the field, if I have the opportunity, but also off the field. I love Portugal, I’ve been here many times, I love the people. But what I really want is to be part of the future of Länk Vilaverdense, to build something that will last for a long time, whether in the second or third division. It’s a long-term vision and we hope to reach the first division.”

The North American promises to “stay until the end of the season” in Vila Verde and confesses that he wants to “be part of the future” of the team, even though it is difficult to understand what leads an investor to risk entering the field.

«I think people don’t realize that there are similarities between business and the physical part. Most of my friends are successful entrepreneurs and they are very strong here [aponta para a cabeça] and in a business room, but they would never try to run on a lawn with 20-year-old boys from Portugal.”

«My family knows me very well and they just thought: “Okay, here’s Courtney with another strange idea.” My friends have been very supportive. I have friends who climbed Everest, Mike Posner, who wrote “I took a pill in Ibiza” is my friend and crossed America from one coast to the other on foot. I didn’t want to do the same thing, but I thought: “What could be equally crazy, what’s the challenge?” But I wanted it to involve the physical part and also be a financial challenge, as it is.”

Courtney also reveals to us that he found out about Länk Vilaverdense through a friend «with connections to several clubs» and that he welcomed the opportunity due to the «regulations» in Portugal, as well as «the way the investment is made».

Despite his good disposition, he appears to be prepared to hear people say that he pays to be able to play. “I understand if people say that. I understand that not everyone has this opportunity and I am lucky for that. I worked hard to get this opportunity. That’s why it’s also important for me to not only have this opportunity on the field, but also to make an investment in the team off the field. Investment means my time, my advice and tips. I have founded more than 10 companies, invested in more than a hundred, so I believe I have something to offer. Of course, then there is the money component and all that.”

Used to traveling all over the world, the North American chose a town in Minho to promote yet another investment. The objective, in addition to the financial point of view, is to unite the region with the club and end the distance caused by the games being played in Coimbra.

«Not all fans understand what I’m doing or even like me. You don’t need to like me, but if I can bring everyone together… football is about connections and culture. I hope to create that in some way.”

In addition to uniting the Vila Verde community, Courtney is also thinking about… rivalries. The businessman confesses to keeping a close eye on what Ryan Reynolds has done at Wrexham, but guarantees that this investment is on another level.

«I wanted to make this crazy idea come true. Some people will say it’s like Ryan Reynolds’ “Welcome to Wrexham”, but in this case I play”, he highlights, even having in mind a call to the “Deadpool” actor, in order to arrange a game between the two teams.

The stay in Vila Verde has not yet completed a week, but Courtney has already found a house a few kilometers from the stadium and tried to get to know the surrounding area, having been “very well received”, in a region that he considers to have potential for development. The Achilles’ heel may actually be the gastronomy, but the town’s new resident guarantees that he will only eat “a good steak” at the end of the games – for now, he sticks to bread and bread at the end of training.

Be one more and not “the one”

If leadership is seen by example, Courtney has set the tone. The North American did not shy away from carrying the goals with the rest of his teammates, with the intention of showing that he is one more and not just the one.

After a brief warm-up, the first touches with the ball came. But one detail caught our attention. Carefully observing Courtney’s movements was a physical trainer, who does not belong to the Länk Vilaverdense technical team.

Phil Walsh, former English player, closely followed the team’s training session, keeping an eye on the North American striker, with whom he has been working on a personal basis since February.

«His physical condition is extraordinary for someone who is 45 years old. He takes great care of himself, he has all the care and technology at his disposal, to take care of everything from his skin to his muscles or flexibility. Even he did yoga, everything you can imagine,” he reveals.

«In football, you have to take care of your body, but you also have to create a relationship with the ball. And that’s where I come in. I would say he is ready to play on Sunday. You still need some time to get familiar with the team, learn the names and little things like certain football terms in Portuguese, as well as the speed of the game. But he will adapt to that soon», he confides.

After completing the exercises in small groups, the team heads to the center of the pitch, where they will recreate game situations. In the stands, a giant tripod begins to be set up to film the training, but it is not the team analyst who is in charge of the operations.

Phil, meanwhile, has already left the area of ​​the pitch where Courtney was playing with the team and is preparing to record footage of the training. During the afternoon, as he himself admits, he will sit down and drink a good tea while explaining to the forward what he can improve, as well as what coach Sérgio Machado asks of him.

«Although I believe he is practically ready to play, he still has to iron out certain details. He has also done some good things on the pitch and it is important for him to see how good he can be.”

Courtney played as a center forward and, although he lacked some intensity in his pressing, he showed a good relationship with the ball, especially with his left foot. After training, at a time when all the teammates went to the locker room, Courtney remained on the field and Phil jumped onto the pitch to give individual training, focused on finishing at the near post.

Despite the personalized support, Länk Vilaverdense’s new reinforcement has sought to establish a connection with his teammates, with whom he speaks several times during exercises.

«When I met the team I made a joke: “I used to be very fast and left-handed, now I’m just left-handed”», he tells us.

«I would be lying if I said I didn’t experience difficulties. Everyone thinks and moves much faster. I’m getting used to it. Even if it were in the USA, it would be difficult, but most people speak Portuguese. It’s an adaptation process, I try not to be a distraction, learn the positions and how my colleagues move. After two training sessions, I feel really good, but it is a challenge. But I already knew it would be like this and this is the fun part. I’m enjoying the path without being focused on the goal.”

We’ll Always Have Paris

If there is curiosity to see Courtney on the pitch, the possible presence of Paris Hilton also excites fans. The “socialite” is not yet expected to be present at the game against Torreense, next Sunday, but she is expected to visit her brother-in-law soon – for now, other illustrious figures will attend the meeting, such as the US ambassador to Portugal.

«I don’t control my brother and Paris’ schedule, but they want to come and support me. Paris must come, but now I want to think about what’s best for the team and I don’t want there to be any distractions. We are going to have a very important game, if we don’t win we will have to be relegated to League 3, so I just want to focus on the game and the team. It must come, but if we see that it will be a distraction, it may only come later. I promise that, if you’re here next season, you’ll go see Paris.”