Sergino Dest’s future with La Liga club Barcelona remains unknown, but for now he is preparing to be a member of the squad this season.
Dest has continued his preseason preparations with Barcelona ahead of a busy summer tour in the United States. The U.S. men’s national team fullback spent last season on loan with Serie A side AC Milan, but struggled for playing time during the final five months.
Dest, 22, joined Barcelona from Dutch club Ajax in 2020 and has proceeded to registered three goals and four assists in 72 combined appearances. Although, his last appearance for the Catalan club came back in April 2022, the American defender is focused on the upcoming preseason tour in the United States.
“Yes, I see myself staying,” Dest said Friday in a press conference. “Obviously I have to prove my worth during pre-season. It’s up to me. I feel I can prove it and I will prove it. My stance is to stay here and have a really good season with Barcelona.”
“As the coach said, everyone starts from scratch every season,” Dest added. “I feel that, because of what happened to me last season, I’m starting a bit behind [so] I will try to give my best version to the team and help the team to win.”
Ronald Araujo mainly featured at right back last season while Sergi Roberto is also an option in defense. Former LA Galaxy defender Julian Araujo is with Barcelona B following his move from MLS, but might be forced to wait for a first team role.
Dest comes into Barcelona preseason off the back of winning his second Concacaf Nations League title with the USMNT in June. A former dual-national player, Dest has earned 25 caps with the USMNT, scoring two goals and registering four assists.
Barcelona opens its preseason tour on July 22 against Juventus before future matches against Arsenal, Real Madrid, and AC Milan across the United States. Xavi’s squad will then take on Tottenham in Spain on August 8 in the Joan Gamper Trophy Final before opening its La Liga schedule five days later against Getafe.
Dest’s future with the club could still change by Barcelona’s league opener, but for now he will compete to stay in Spain and continue his development.
“I don’t want to give too much information about what I talked about with the coach, but, in short, he told me: ‘OK, I’ll give you the opportunity to prove your worth’…He also told me: ‘I think you have skills but it’s up to you, you have to show me’. And I agree completely,” Dest said. “I have some skills that can be good for the team but I have to show them and be consistent.”