FC Barcelona are preparing to cash a check that may be getting larger every time the US men’s national team advances in the FIFA World Cup. That’s because they own a 20% sell-on fee on Sergiño Dest, who is having a good World Cup as a starter for the Americans.
Dest has been linked with a move to the Bundesliga, with Bayern Munich and now Bayer Leverkusen rumored as potential destinations. The move to Leverkusen is said to be edging closer, with the Germans offering around 20 million euros, and his
current club, PSV Eindhoven, holding out for 25. If the deal goes through for that latter amount, Barcelona would earn 5 million in the process.
A product of the AFC Ajax academy, Dest was signed by Barcelona at a young age to take over the right-back position. He was then loaned to AC Milan, followed by PSV. A severe injury complicated his time at PSV, and the Dutch club refused a purchase clause worth 11 million at the end of his loan. In the end, they got him for free.
That turned out to be a great decision as Dest has improved over time and matured as a player. Now, he’s ready to make the jump back to Europe’s top five leagues, at the same time as he’s playing an important role for his national team at a home World Cup.
The United States won their round of 32 knockout match against Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 yesterday, with Dest as a starter. They play Belgium next.
