After a disastrous loan at AC Milan last season, Sergiño Dest returned to Barcelona this summer with a clean slate. Just a couple months later, he’s on his way out again.
On Monday, Dest completed a season-long loan to PSV, with the Dutch power holding a reported €11 million option to make the move permanent.
Though the 22-year-old didn’t make a single appearance for AC Milan after January, he was given another chance to earn a spot with Barcelona ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
“[Barcelona manager Xavi] just told me, ‘I’ll give you a fair chance to prove yourself,’” Dest said last month. “He told me, ‘I think you have qualities, but it’s up to you, you have to show me.'”
Dest played in all three games of Barcelona’s U.S. tour, but hasn’t been seen on the field since. He now returns to the Eredivisie, where he came up through the ranks at Ajax before joining Barcelona in 2020.
Sergiño is red white! 😏 pic.twitter.com/PwDEq4DHtp
— PSV (@PSV) August 21, 2023
Dest joins USMNT teammates at PSV
Dest is now the third U.S. men’s national team player to join PSV this summer, following Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman.
That is no coincidence, with Earnie Stewart now the Dutch club’s sporting director following a spell in the same position at U.S. Soccer.
“Sergiño Dest was keen to join us, which we obviously liked. He is a very skillful and creative defender who can help the team with his explosive power and attacking intentions.” Stewart said in a club release.
Dest added: “I like the style of football they play at PSV. I think it suits me very well. I return to the Netherlands. I’m still the same player but I’ve gained a lot of experience and I’ve hopefully acquired a higher efficiency.”
Dest was already named in PSV’s 22-man squad for Tuesday’s Champions League playoff first leg at Rangers. The winner of the two-leg tie will earn a spot in the competition’s group stage.
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