Reigning Serie A champions AC Milan have no intention of exercising a buyout clause in Sergino Dest’s loan deal from Barcelona, insists Fabrizio Romano.
Dest joined the Rossoneri on a season-long loan following an underwhelming first season at Spotify Camp Nou last summer but failed to live up to expectations.
The United States international signed for Barcelona as an up-and-coming talent after an eye-catching breakthrough season at Ajax in 2020, but his career has since been in freefall.
He first lost the trust of the Blaugrana head coach Xavi Hernandez before switching to the Stadio San Siro in pursuit of regular first-team football but to no avail.
While Milan boss Stefano Pioli expected Dest to provide cover for captain Davide Calabria or even challenge the Italian for a starting berth, the USMNT star’s disappointing showings have pushed him to the fringes.
Not only has the 22-year-old amassed just 14 appearances in all competitions this season, but his last league outing dates back to late January.
Dest was handed all 90 minutes in Milan’s embarrassing 4-0 defeat at fierce rivals Lazio on January 24, which was his last game for soon-to-be former Serie A champions.
Since the Italians are no longer interested in keeping the Barcelona loanee, the youngster will head back to Spain at the end of the season to discuss his future with the Blaugrana.
It’s hard to see him staying at Camp Nou beyond the summer, as Xavi already plots a bid for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Evan Ndicka despite Roma’s growing interest in the Frenchman.
Dest’s contract at Barcelona runs out in 2025 and after splashing out close to €21 million to take him away from Ajax less than three years ago, the Spaniards will be keen to recoup that investment.
But given the player’s below-par season at Milan, Barca may struggle to find suitors for the versatile defender.
