The promising 20-year-old defender has just completed a test season at Camp Nou with a €21 million deal, taking him to Spain from Ajax.
Dest’s time at Barcelona has just begun
Sergino Dest has been the subject of transfer talk heading towards the summer window, but the US star expects to stay at Barcelona for the 2021-22 season. The promising 20-year-old defender has just completed a test season at Camp Nou with a €21 million deal, taking him to Spain from Ajax. He played 41 appearances for Barca in all competitions, scoring three goals, but now, he says, is registering on recruiting radars at Bayern Munich and Arsenal. More change is mooted in Catalonia. However, Dest is reading little into the speculation, telling reporters about his future after figuring for the United States in a 2-1 friendly loss to Switzerland: “I will stay. My time at the Blaugrana has just begun, and I am only thinking about Barcelona.” Dest committed to a five-year deal upon his arrival at Barca in the summer of 2020.
The US star is linked with Arsenal and Bayern move
It was cut straight into a star-studded side and had to settle fast while working under the brightest of spotlights. Positive progress was made early on, but some challenges arose along the way. One of Dest’s most testing outings came against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16, with Kylian Mbappe giving him a challenging time while hitting a hat-trick at Camp Nou. However, Dest is a work in progress, and Barca have high hopes for him, with a more prominent role at the international level. The links to Arsenal have come about as speculation rages around Hector Bellerin at Emirates Stadium, but it seems as though the Gunners will have to turn their attention elsewhere.
Bayern may also have to explore other options. The Bundesliga champions seek another promising player on the right of their defence after recently buying into the potential Omar Richards on the left.