Sergino Dest’s rapid rise at Eredivisie side Ajax has caught the eye of several top European clubs and the American recently admitted his hopes and belief in himself.
Dest is reportedly being tracked by Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Tottenham with Bayern the only club to put in a transfer for his services. The 19-year-old Ajax right back excelled both domestically and in Europe in his first senior season and has his goals set out for himself at club level.
“I want to be the most expensive full-back ever because when you reach that it shows that you are one of the best full-back of the world,” Dest told NOS Jeugdjournaal. “I want to go over €50 million. No defender went above €100m.
“I want to play with [Kylian] Mbappe, Ronaldo, Messi or Neymar. Time will tell if it will come true. But it is possible.”
Dest totaled 36 combined appearances for Ajax this season, scoring two goals and adding six assists. He made his debut in four separate competitions including the UEFA Champions League, where Dest appeared eight times between qualifying and the group stage.
Dest’s strong season was rewarded with being named Ajax’s Young Player of the Year after the Eredivisie was ruled complete due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bayern Munich seems to be the favorite for Dest’s signature, but the U.S. Men’s National Team defender hasn’t decided yet on his future just yet.
“There are a lot of rumors,” Dest said. “No, it has not been decided that I go to Bayern Munich and I haven’t really said anything yet. There is interest from clubs but I don’t know if I leave Ajax.”
Should Dest leave Ajax this summer, he would follow in the footsteps of many other young stars over the last few seasons to do the same. Matthijs De Ligt (Juventus) and Frankie De Jong (Barcelona) left in the summer of 2019 and Hakim Ziyech will join Chelsea this summer at the end of the Premier League season.
Dest’s impressive resume in his first full senior season has caught the eye of several suitors, but it may be best for his overall development to remain in Amsterdam for the time being.
Wanna be the best fullback ever……Me too. Welcome to the club.
He’s very strong going forward but back in defense has some flaws to correct. Anyway he has a brilliant future.
I hope he stays and then be able to go where he really wants to go. I think he mentioned he would like to go to Barcelona. Imagine if one year later, DeLaFuente improves enough to get call up into the first team. They would again partner the right side as they did in the U20 WC for the USA.
i appreciate how this kid says what he means.
rarely leaves anything subject to interpretation.
he was incredibly open and honest throughout the picking US/Oranje drama, too.
I’d like him to stay with Ajax for another season before trying to jump to one of these “Super Clubs”. Another solid season and the he’ll show he’s got the goods and isn’t a one-hit wonder…which should increase the asking price and insure he gets a real opportunity with whichever club signs him.
Good that he is confident and ambitious, but I hope he doesn’t go to a team just to be on a name team and not play. Better would to be on a CL team like Dortmund, Leipzig, Chelsea, Inter Milan, or similar and be a regular.
Isn’t Ajax already on that level? UEFA Club Coefficient that’s based off of CL and EL results Dortmund 12, Chelsea 14, Ajax 21, Leipzig 29, and Inter 51. I guess he gains from playing better competition but being challenged to get on the field wouldn’t be any different. I think Bayern would be a good spot but unless they have a plan to move Pavard to another club or different position I don’t see much playing time. If Favre is staying at Dortmund I’m not sold on Dest as a WB in the 3-4-3.
I guess I have to spell it out for you. Yes, Ajax often has a good team, good enough to regularly make the knock out rounds of the CL. They occasionally get as far as the semi finals. But, week in and week out he doesn’t get the same level of competition that he would with those other clubs.
I get that but I don’t see those clubs having the ability to meet Ajax’s number. I don’t know if we’ve seen numbers but you’d think he’d be around 20-25 million I don’t think the clubs you listed would pay that for a RB at his level. Chelsea (not sure Chelsea is different from Barca or PSG) would have no problem with that but RBL doesn’t spend that kind of money and Dortmund is supposedly deep in debt. Now if Ajax can work a loan and then sell the next year that could work.
I’m not sure I love this as a “goal” but hey if he can back it up with the goods, I guess I’m ok with it. For clarity, “the goods” means not getting dropped like a statue by Jesus Corona.
Didn’t he have some comments earlier in the quarantine about winning the World Cup? I think people put too much on getting megged, probably because most people haven’t seen much of him.
I’ve seen a bunch of him, he isn’t very good defensively. Even against pretty weak competition in their league.
Ajax doesn’t need him to be though and he is athletic. So big club probably thinking he is young and they can train the D part, plus he plays in games against teams they dominate anyway, and he is good getting forward.
and I like the ambition. Do try to win the World cup. Do try to be the best in the world.