Dest: Xavi wasn't honest enough with me; Messi often joked around during my first season at Barcelona

Former Barcelona defender Sergino Dest reflected on his time at the club in an interview with *Mundo Deportivo*. The American defender expressed that he felt former Barcelona coach Xavi was not entirely honest with him, and the teammate who left the deepest impression on him was Messi. When Dest joined Barcelona, Messi often joked around in the locker room. Additionally, Dest mentioned his desire to return to La Liga in the future.

Due to his impressive performances at Ajax, Dest transferred to Barcelona in the summer of 2020 for €21 million. However, the overall instability at the club affected his performance, and as he did not fit into Xavi's plans, the American defender ultimately had to leave. He returned to the Eredivisie, where he regained his best form at PSV Eindhoven, becoming a regular starter in Bosz's team until suffering a severe injury in April of this year. While recovering from his injury in Barcelona, Dest spoke with *Mundo Deportivo* about various topics.

First of all, how is your knee recovery going? When can we expect to see you back on the pitch?  
Dest: Everything is going well, and progress is steady. It’s not easy mentally, but I’m very motivated to make a strong comeback. I believe I can return in February next year. If I need more time, that’s fine; the important thing is that I recover properly.

You, Carvajal, and Bernal… It seems like there have been more knee injuries recently. Is that just my feeling?  
Dest: I don’t know the exact numbers, but I wouldn’t be surprised. These are all accidents, but players are facing more and more matches with less time to rest.

Are you the type to count down the days until your return?  
Dest: At first, it’s tough, but you have to accept what has happened. You try to forget about football a bit, focus on recovery, and enjoy a different life; spending time with friends and family and participating in activities you couldn’t during the season… But of course, when the Champions League starts, it’s hard not to feel emotional. When you go to the stadium, nostalgia hits.

Your situation is quite strange; you barely played in Milan, but at PSV, you performed excellently from day one. Was it really that easy to regain your confidence?
Dest: (laughs) I always knew what I could bring. When I arrived at PSV, I felt a lot of support. Bosz had a lot of confidence in me, which motivated me to give 100% on the pitch to help the team. The atmosphere was calm and peaceful, which allowed me to keep a cool head and perform at my best. PSV truly believed in me.

Among the offers you received, why did you choose to return to the Eredivisie? 
Dest: I wanted to play in the Champions League and hoped to have plenty of playing time to improve and continue growing. I felt I needed to restart, and if I went to some other clubs, I might not get much playing time because I didn’t play a lot after returning from my loan at Milan…

Let’s talk about Barcelona. What do you think of Flick’s team?  
Dest: They are doing very well, and they know what they want. This year, they have a chance to win La Liga because they have shown a desire for the title. They started well and need to maintain that form.

Do you still keep in touch with your former teammates?  
Dest: I’m in contact with a few of them, not every day, but we chat occasionally.

You joined Barcelona during a tumultuous time. How do you view your period as a Barcelona player? 
Dest: It was an incredible and wonderful experience. I will always hold Barcelona close to my heart. It’s a shame things ended this way because I felt I could still contribute to the club. But when a new coach comes in with his own ideas, you can’t change that.

It feels like you started off relaxed and vibrant but gradually lost confidence.  
Dest: I agree. I was a “parachute” signing wanting to prove myself and get on the pitch… and everything was going well on a personal level. But in the end, I was still new, and my teammates didn’t know me… Ultimately, I had a style of play where I often tried risky moves, but here I was asked to play differently. That made me lose some confidence in my decision-making and made me question whether I should stick to my style or change it. Those doubts ultimately affected my performance.

Did pressure also play a role?  
Dest: Without a doubt, especially on a team level. The club’s situation wasn’t good; it was in a low state and facing many off-field issues, which made things chaotic. The results were affected because important signings couldn’t be made. Everything is interconnected. First, it’s “this player must leave,” “that player is bad”… all of these are burdens.

Some players shut down their social media to avoid harsh criticism.  
Dest: It shouldn’t be that way, but that’s how things work. You have to accept it because if you don’t, you’ll end up sinking. Of course, sometimes you see things, but you can’t change how others perceive you. You must focus on the things you can control.

Is there anything you regret? 
Dest: I wouldn’t say regret because ultimately, it wasn’t up to me, but I felt I didn’t get enough opportunities under Xavi. I felt like I had to play within certain limits and couldn’t be myself. I wanted to get involved in the attack because that’s my biggest strength, but he asked me not to push forward.

What happened between you and Xavi?  
Dest: I felt he wasn’t entirely honest with me. We had several conversations, and he told me some things, but I began to doubt the truth of those words. Before the summer break, he told me, “I need you, don’t look at those news stories.” But when I just returned, he told me, “You have to leave.”

Who impressed you the most as a teammate?  
Dest: Of course, it was Messi. You’ve seen him on videos and in video games… and suddenly, he’s right in front of you. The atmosphere in the locker room was great during the first season; he joked around a lot… but then that feeling began to change, and some of the fun was lost.

Now, let’s go back to the present. More precisely, to the future. Is there a possibility we might see you back in La Liga?
Dest: Of course! I hope so. I’m very happy at PSV and grateful, but I’m ambitious and definitely hope to play in one of the top five European leagues again. I believe I have that level, and through hard work and stable performances, I think I can achieve that goal without a doubt. I don’t know what will happen in the future, but I hope to return to La Liga one day.

In two years, the United States will host the World Cup. It’s a special moment for you.  
Dest: I will enjoy every minute of the World Cup, and I hope to make a significant contribution to my country. Although there’s still some time until then, it could become a “turning point” for the U.S., marking a new beginning, and we are all looking forward to it.