Having returned to FC Barcelona this summer from a loan at AC Milan, Dest has not been able to convince Xavi of his ability to play according to the requirements of the Catalan team. Thus, he is unlikely to remain at Barcelona for the season ahead as well.
The right-back joined the preseason camp at Barcelona and was also a part of the team’s tour of the USA. He has featured in some of these preseason matches, but Xavi is clearly not impressed by Dest’s performances.
Loan offers for Dest
According to a report from SPORT, Dest will again be loaned out by Barcelona this season, and his most likely destination would either be PSV Eindhoven or Nice. The report further mentions that the Catalan club has given the USA International 48-72 hours to make a decision on which of these two clubs he wants to join, and Dest will have to make a final decision by Monday.
Dest will make a decision regarding either of these clubs while keeping in view his own characteristics and the playing styles of these clubs. Whichever club he selects, he will be loaned out with the option to purchase, as was the case with his loan to AC Milan.
Meanwhile, the negotiations between Barcelona and these two interested clubs are already well advanced, and the move is expected to be finalized by Monday. His current contract with Barcelona runs till 2025, but if he is able to perform well on these loan terms, he can be permanently purchased before this contract expires.
Dest unable to convince Xavi
As already mentioned, Dest did the preseason with FC Barcelona, but he was unable to convince Xavi. This was clear by the game time he got during the USA tour and the ensuing games.
Dest played 45 minutes against Arsenal, then 14 minutes against Real Madrid, and 23 minutes against Milan in the last match in the USA. He did not get any minutes in the Joan Gamper game, and was not even called up for the Getafe match as he has not been registered by Barcelona for their La Liga campaign.
During his time at Barcelona, Dest has played 72 games, scoring three goals and giving four assists. He won the Copa del Rey in 2020-21, but his career at the Catalan club has rather been inconspicuous, despite the high hopes that he came with after his €21 million transfer from Ajax in 2020.
