After recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, Sergiño Dest is ready to play again with the United States national team for the first time in a year and a half. The footballer has expressed that he has matured since the red card he received in November 2023. The incident, which occurred during a Concacaf Nations League quarter-final match, involved an unnecessary argument with the referee, resulting in two yellow cards within 30 seconds.
Dest served a one-match suspension, missing the semi-final against Jamaica. The right-back returned to the field on March 24 in the 2-0 victory against Mexico, but suffered a non-contact ACL rupture during a training session with PSV Eindhoven on April 20. The footballer described the moment of the injury, explaining that he felt pain immediately, but initially thought the recovery would be quick. However, the reality was different, and he did not return to action until last March 8th. His first 90-minute match was in the PSV season final on May 18, where the team won the Dutch league title.Obviously it wasn’t good, but I learned from that. I know you need to be aware of your temper. Obviously, you need to help the team and that’s not the way to help the team. So I learned from that and I will make sure that these things don’t happen again.
Sergiño Dest
Dest had hoped to play for the United States in the Gold Cup, but was ruled out a few days after the start of training.I’ve seen some things and some moments on the field that made me think, OK, I’m back. I’m still searching because it’s difficult. Whenever you come back after an injury like that, you need a couple more months to feel completely free again because the first matches, in some changes of direction, I needed more time. But now I’m getting stronger and stronger, so I feel better and better.
Sergiño Dest
Son of a Surinamese-American father and a Dutch mother, Dest was trained in the Ajax youth academy and chose to play for the United States instead of the Netherlands. He made his international debut in 2019 and has scored two goals in 33 appearances. In October 2020, Dest became the first American to be signed by Barcelona’s first team. His role diminished after Xavi Hernández was hired as coach, and Dest was loaned to AC Milan in September 2022 and then to PSV in August 2023. Even after the injury, the Dutch club acquired his rights the following June and signed him to a four-year contract.He’s a player with the flexibility to play high. He has the ability to drive forward and get past players, score goals.
Mauricio Pochettino
While injured, Dest became interested in Formula 1 and attended a race in Zandvoort, Netherlands.He’s incredible with the ball. It’s an old-school type of skill with the ball at his feet. You can give him the ball and he’ll be able to get out of any situation.
Matt Freese
I tried to get away from football and do other things in life, watch other sports and also relax with friends and family, just to disconnect, because it’s difficult if you can’t be on the field and see them play.
Sergiño Dest
