Xavi ups the pressure on Sergino Dest to leave Barcelona
Barcelona manager Xavi offered another indication Saturday of his plans – or lack thereof – for Sergino Dest, as the club continue their efforts to raise funds and register new signing Jules Kounde.
Talking about the club’s right-back position, Xavi mentioned Ronald Araujo, Sergi Roberto and Kounde as players who can play there, after the manager admitted the club was interested this summer in Chelsea‘s Cesar Azpilicueta.
When asked about Dest’s role, Xavi struck a different tone.
Sergino Dest is reportedly not in Xavi’s plans at Barcelona – and he’s been linked with United
‘He knows what the situation is,’ he said according to ESPN.
Dest was signed by Barca from Ajax in 2020 when Ronald Koeman was managing the club, but the Dutchman was fired less than a month after the defender’s arrival.
Under Xavi (and briefly interim manager Sergi Barjuan), Dest has struggled to cement his starting place on the right of the defense over two seasons.
In fact, he started fewer games in LaLiga last season (17) than in 2020-21 (23), although he did deal with various injury ailments last campaign.
Nonetheless, with Barca looking to clear money off its books, Dest has emerged as a candidate to be sold by the Catalan club.
Dest was told by Xavi earlier this week that he is no longer in the manager’s plans for this season, according to ESPN, while the 21-year-old was left out of Barca’s squad for last week’s LaLiga opener against Rayo Vallecano.
Xavi, pictured on Saturday, has reportedly told Dest he should look for a new club this summer
The US international would reportedly like to stay put, but a move to England could be on the cards if he’s forced out.
Sport reported last week that Manchester United are interested in the right back, with manager Erik ten Hag willing to send Diogo Dalot the other way to complete the deal.
However, Barcelona are only reportedly interested in a cash transfer for the $20million-valued player, making a deal with United complicated. Ten Hag worked with Dest at Ajax, and the club reportedly asked about him during negotiations over Frenkie de Jong.
Dortmund’s 30-year-old Thomas Meunier, then, is a more likely option for United according to The Telegraph due to Dest’s price tag.
