Sergiño Dest will no longer play in 2024, club watcher Rik Elfrink assures Eindhovens Dagblad Tuesday evening based on sources around PSV. The left back of the leader, rented from FC Barcelona, has to recuperate for months because he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. Dest suffered the injury on Saturday during a PSV training session and is not expected back until early 2025.
“Dest sustained the injury on Saturday, not even during a physical duel. He made a wrong move during an exercise and then something in his knee snapped. Investigation by the PSV staff immediately set off all the alarm bells,” Elfrink writes. This has made surgery necessary. PSV will talk to Barcelona in the coming weeks about whether or not to take over Dest permanently this summer.
PSV has yet to officially confirm Dest's long-term absence. The Eindhoven club already issued a statement regarding the wing defender on Sunday. “Sergiño Dest suffered an apparently serious knee injury during Saturday's training. How long the full-back will be sidelined is still being investigated. It is almost certain that it will be a longer period.”
It Eindhovens Dagblad and Football International already reported on Sunday that Dest must take into account a long rehabilitation period. Medical examination revealed that it was a serious knee injury, although PSV still managed to avoid the injury.
Dest was currently having a strong period at PSV in the left back position. For example, he scored the only goal in the away match against Go Ahead Eagles (0-1 win). The defender, hired from Barcelona, has played 37 matches for PSV in all competitions so far. He scored two goals and seven assists.
Leader PSV ends the season in the Eredivisie with away games against SC Heerenveen and Fortuna Sittard and home games against Sparta Rotterdam and RKC Waalwijk. Dest is therefore missing in these matches and, given his rental status, it is still questionable whether the defender will even play for the leader.
Substitutes
Dest's injury is a setback for trainer Peter Bosz, who does have some alternatives in his selection. Patrick van Aanholt seems to be the most logical replacement, but Mauro Júnior, who usually operates in midfield, can also function as a left back.
Future uncertain
Hans Kraay junior recently reported ESPN that PSV can permanently bring Dest to Eindhoven in a few months due to the purchase option in the rental deal with Barcelona. “They can of course take him over for ten million euros. But Ajax will also enter the battle for the signature of the ten million man,” the reporter predicted. However, due to the serious knee injury, it is uncertain where Dest will play after his rehabilitation period.
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