Barcelona are unwilling to take any prisoners this summer and do not wish to retain players that are considered deadwood heading into next season.
One of the fringe assets Barcelona have placed on the transfer market is American full-back Sergino Dest.
The player has endured a tumultuous time since joining the Catalan outfit, and has fallen out of favour under Xavi Hernandez while an underwhelming loan spell at AC Milan did little to help his situation.
Speaking to CBS Sports Golazo about the taxing toll of being part of the football world, Dest opened up about his private life as well as discussing his situation at Barcelona.
Eager to show his best for Barcelona
Although Dest is unlikely to be a member of the first-team squad before the transfer window slams shut, he has not ruled out the possibility of turning things around at Barcelona.
“I’ve accomplished quite a lot but I’m not satisfied yet. I’m at the biggest club in the world and I just want to create my legacy. I feel like I haven’t done that yet, and I have a lot more to prove and show,” he said.
Lofty ambitions
Dest shared his desire to find more consistency in his performances and how he hopes to be remembered by fans when he inevitably bids the beautiful game farewell.
“I just want people in the US to remember me as one of the best full-backs they have ever had and one of the most skillful,” Dest stated.
“I also want the whole world to know, I feel like I have a lot of potential but sometimes lack of consistency at the club level.”
“A lot of things happen in your private life and sometimes it’s difficult to concentrate. My priority is to show the best version of myself, and then people will remember me when I’m done,” Dest said.
The mental toll of being a footballer
Dest went on to explain how exhausting it can be mentally for a footballer as well, saying: “People want to know about our private life and take pictures, it’s not the same as a regular job. Obviously, it comes with the job, but mentally it’s always really difficult.”
“You cannot have a mental breakdown, it’s almost impossible because you have to stand there for your club, you have to represent people. Sometimes it’s difficult, people don’t know what’s going on. The only thing I can do is laugh about it.”
While Dest may still be dreaming of proving himself at Barcelona, time is running out for him. The Blaugrana are looking for ways to offload him and have stuck a €10 million price tag on his head.
But given the lack of suitors, another stint away on loan cannot be ruled out.