Dest rejects Bayern Munich option: Can he reclaim the right-back spot at Barcelona?
As Barcelona look to raise funds in order to sign and register new players, Sergiño Dest had been viewed as one valuable player who they could offload. Signed from Ajax in 2020 for €21m, when Bayern Munich were also interested, Dest has now been linked with the Bavarian club in recent weeks.
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However, his agent Michael Reschke has shut down those rumours during an interview with Bild. Reschke, who has connections at Bayern Munich from his spell as a director there, explained that the Allianz Arena is a good place for young players to develop, but that his client isn’t keen on such a move, at least not right now.
“Bayern Munich never have too big a squad, so as a talented young player you can always find playing time,” Reschke told Bild. “But, [Dest] has no desire to change club right now. I doubt that there will be a transfer to Munich in the summer.”
Sergiño Dest has no desire to change club right now.
- Michael ReschkeCan Dest win his right-back spot back?
It seems, then, that Dest wants to stay at Barcelona and win his right-back spot back. Under Xavi, he had dropped down the pecking order, to the point where the Catalan coach has preferred centre-back Ronald Araújo or 38-year-old Dani Alves over the USMNT player.
Dest has apparently lost his Barça job to a 38-year-old.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) January 8, 2022
Under Xavi, Dest has only played three times for a total of 139 minutes – 45 minutes in the 3-0 loss at Bayern, four in the 0-0 draw against Benfica and 90 in the 1-0 home loss to Real Betis in LaLiga Santander.
During Xavi’s first weeks, Dest has also missed out with injury and COVID-19, meaning he has been unavailable for five of Xavi’s 11 matches in charge. Then, he has also had three matches when he didn’t get off the bench.
It appears that Dani Alves is the first choice at the position right now, with the Brazilian starting against Granada on Saturday night even though both he and Dest were available. For the former Ajax man to convince Xavi that he deserves to start over the coach’s former teammate will be a tough challenge.
The clock is ticking too because Sergi Roberto should return from injury in February and that will bring even more right-back competition for Dest.
It is a tricky situation for the 21-year-old, who seems determined to make it at the Camp Nou. He has shown flashes of his quality over his first 18 months at the club, but will need more than that to convince Xavi.
