Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 2:02 pm• Jonathan van Haaster • Last update: 14:28

Sergiño Dest will be out of action on Saturday night in Barcelona’s season opener in LaLiga. The Catalans play in their own Camp Nou against Rayo Vallecano, where Dest will take place in the stands. Dest has played much less after the departure of Ronald Koeman. Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay are part of the 23-man selection.

The 21-year-old right back came over from Ajax in mid-2020 and has since played 72 matches for the Blaugrana. Koeman was fired from Barcelona at the end of October 2021 and that turned out to be bad news for Dest as well. Under the new trainer Xavi, the American international got to play significantly less. The coach usually chooses Sergi Roberto as right defender, while the left back position – where Dest can also work – is occupied by Jordi Alba.

Injury was also one of the reasons that Dest played less after Koeman’s departure. The defender was out for more than two months last season due to various muscle injuries. However, Spanish media now assure that Dest’s absence from the match selection has nothing to do with injuries. Center defender Ronald Araújo also regularly acted as a right back last season, although his attacking qualities are less expressed there. In the expected line-up of Mundo Deportivo Sergi Roberto forms the rear along with Araújo, Eric García and Jordi Alba.

Depay – who will probably leave for Juventus – and De Jong will probably not kick off on Saturday evening either. The latter is the subject of a transfer saga whose end is not yet in sight. Manchester United in particular has been angling for the services of the Dutch international for some time. Xavi therefore probably chooses Gavi, Sergio Busquets and Pedri as a three-man midfielder.



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