Barcelona consider terminating the contract of ex-Man Utd transfer target

Updated: 31 Jul 2023 18:00 BST
3 min read

Barcelona are considering terminating the contract of defender Sergino Dest after a disastrous pre-season tour which saw him fall even more out of favour with manager Xavi.

Dest joined Barca from Ajax in 2020 for a fee of €21 million and has made 72 appearances in all competitions for the Catalan side but has failed to impress with his performances.

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The 22-year-old was strongly linked with a move to Manchester United last summer but he instead spent the season on loan at Milan, however he made just eight appearances in Serie A.

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Milan have opted against bringing the American back this season and Barca’s struggles at right-back saw Dest being given an opportunity during the club’s pre-season tour of the USA.

Dest featured in friendlies against Arsenal and Real Madrid but he endured a torrid time against Los Blancos forward Vinicius Jr despite Barca’s 3-0 win over their rivals.

According to Spanish outlet AS, the performance was ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’ and left Xavi convinced Dest had no future at the club, with Barca now considering the best options for the player’s future.

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Barca have been in the market for a right-back since last summer, with Jules Kounde the club’s first choice in the role despite preferring to play at centre-back.

Consequently, Dest was given a chance despite not impressing on loan at Milan but Barca will now consider terminating the last two years of his contract if no offers are forthcoming by the end of the window.

Barca will look to make moves for Ivan Fresneda or Joao Cancelo to fill their void at right-back if Ousmane Dembele completes his move to Paris Saint-Germain, with the French side considering activating his €50m release clause.

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Speaking about his future earlier in the month, Dest admitted he was enduring ‘a really difficult moment in my career and life’ but insisted he would look for the positives and work towards trying to remain at Barca.