Barcelona pleased with loanee defender’s performances, not ruling out return to club

Sergino Dest was one of Barcelona’s innumerable attempts to reinforce the right-back position after the departure of Dani Alves. The young prodigy from Ajax arrived in Catalonia with no dearth of expectations on his shoulders, and unfortunately, collapsed under the same.

Barcelona eventually loaned him out to AC Milan for a year, and the Serie A did not treat him much better. Dest’s inconsistencies saw him ostracised from the playing team, and he returned to Barcelona having no suitors last summer.

Striking gold

It was only at the fag end of the recent summer transfer window that Barcelona found a suitor for the young right-back. Moving to PSV Eindhoven, the youngster has struck gold ever since.

Dest has flourished in the Eredivisie this season and is back to a regular starting role at the club, albeit at left-back. In 29 appearances this season, he has provided six assists and scored one goal for PSV.

As revealed by SPORT, Barcelona are pleased by the youngster’s development. The Dutch side have a purchase clause of €10 million that they can execute for Dest next summer.

However, it is not ruled out that Barcelona ask him to stay for next season looking at his form.

The Xavi factor

Dest never really got it going under Xavi, for the manager did not trust in the youngster’s abilities or quality. Even through preseason, Dest was given minimal importance, and it was always clear that the manager did not favour Dest’s incorporation.

Now that Xavi has announced his exit from Barcelona, however, the 23-year-old may be motivated to give it once more shot in Europe’s top leagues with a return home.

Needless to say, Dest’s future completely rests on his shoulders for he can easily opt to stay at PSV should the Dutch side exercise their purchase clause.