Milan full-back Sergiño Dest is expected to start for the USA against the Netherlands at the World Cup tomorrow and Daley Blind is full of praise for his former Ajax teammate.
The 22-year-old defender arrived on loan from Barcelona this summer and made nine appearances for the club between Serie A and the Champions League.
He is more of a regular in the USMNT and provided an assist for Christian Pulisic’s decisive winning goal against Iran that sent them through to the Round of 16.
They will face the Netherlands on Saturday and Blind singles out his former Ajax teammate for praise.
“Sergiño Dest entered into the Ajax first team very quickly and you could see straight away he had a great deal of talent,” said Blind in a press conference.
“He improved a lot after achieving a place in the main squad, he then moved to Barcelona, where I am sure he learned even more.
“Dest is an excellent player with a lot of quality.”
Primarily a right-back, but also able to play on the left, Dest has 22 senior caps for the United States and has scored two goals.
He was born in the Netherlands and came up through the Ajax youth academy, joining Barcelona for €21m in 2020.
Just two years later, he was loaned to Milan with an option to buy for €20m.
So impressed that he slotted one past them easily. The proper English speakers will show em how it’s done.
Such a beast! Milan are very lucky to get him.