Sergiño Dest Deems Barcelona Return ‘Too Difficult’ Under Xavi’s Management

FC Barcelona’s Sergiño Dest has expressed that a return to the club is “too difficult” as long as Xavi remains in charge, despite having a contract until June 30, 2025.

In an interview with the Dutch magazine Voetbal International, Dest discussed his future post-PSV loan: “Xavi is still there. So not at the moment, it will be too difficult.”

The American full-back was signed by Barcelona on October 1, 2020, for €21 million, with an additional €5 million in variables, securing a five-year contract with a €400 million release clause. However, Dest has found himself on two consecutive loan spells abroad due to not featuring in the plans of the Terrassa-born coach.

Sergiño Dest: Struggling to Find a Place at Barcelona Dest chose to go on loan to AC Milan in September 2022, with the Italian club having the option to purchase the player for €20 million. Despite playing only 14 matches throughout the year, four of them as a starter, AC Milan opted not to exercise the buy option. Subsequently, the player opted for a second loan spell in his home country, joining PSV Eindhoven over his former club Ajax, after realizing his secondary status in Barcelona had not changed following the preseason tour in the United States.

Currently leading the Eredivisie, PSV has the real possibility of either exercising the purchase option or extending the loan after this season: “I think Barcelona, PSV, and I all have something to say about it, and it can be discussed at the end of the season. It’s too early now.” Dest has been playing as a left-back this season, on the opposite side of his usual position, delivering solid performances for PSV. He has featured in 12 league matches and 6 in the Champions League, starting in all of them except against Arsenal in the European competition (where they qualified as group runners-up and will face Borussia Dortmund in the Round of 16). In total, the Barça loanee has accumulated one goal and three assists in over 1,600 minutes.

“Maybe I’ll stay, maybe I’ll go. Malik (Tillman) is in a similar situation with PSV and Bayern Munich, but fortunately, we don’t have to figure it out yet.” Dest concluded that his first priority is to become the Eredivisie champion with PSV before deciding on his future.