Barcelona set for surprise January windfall from player who HATES Xavi

Tom Weber

• 30 Jan 2024 15:46 GMT
• 3 min read

Barcelona could yet receive a more-than-welcome late January cash injection from Sergino Dest.

The United States men's national team star is currently on loan at PSV and has impressed for the Dutch giants, finally turning things around after a poor spell at AC Milan last term. Indeed, such has been his upturn in form this season that PSV are mulling over triggering his buy option.

That's at least according to Mundo Deportivo, which claims that Peter Bosz's side are 'seriously considering' exercising their option, which would see Barcelona receive €10 million, a very welcome windfall for the cash-strapped Catalans, though likely too late to allow them to do any last-minute business.

PSV sporting director Earnie Stewart already confirmed in December that it was his intention to bring Dest in permanently. "We can say that things are going really well for us and for these two players [Dest and Bayern loanee Malik Tillman]. It is true that there is an option to buy with both players. The expectation is that we might do something with that."

Barca happy to see the back of Dest

In light of Dest's much-improved form this term, some Barcelona fans may have harboured some faint hope that Dest could return to the club in light of Xavi's announcement that he will resign at the end of the season. Xavi and Dest, it's fair to say, weren't the best of friends during their time together at the Camp Nou.

The Barcelona boss made it very clear early on that the USMNT right-back was not part of his plans and was desperate to add a more elite player in that position, which he eventually achieved with the signing of Joao Cancelo.

Dest was recently asked about a potential return to Barca and he made it crystal clear what he thought of the 44-year-old. "Xavi is still there. So not for the moment; it will be too difficult.” However, even with Xavi gone, it appears that the 23-year-old has already played his last Barcelona game.