da betsul： The American defender is with the national team for a game against Mexico that, in an ideal world, he would be nowhere near
da dobrowin： Not all U.S. men's national team call-ups are created equal. For Sergino Dest, his invitation to join the national team this week is simply a sign of the times.
The U.S. have convened for a midweek friendly against Mexico, the first in a new annual series of friendlies against big opponents. The match does not fall during an international window so, as a result, clubs are not required to release their players.
MLS clubs have obliged, considering the match is in the U.S. Mexican team Juarez have also released Alan Sonora, although Club America were less accommodating with Alejandro Zendejas. The squad, as a whole, is almost entirely North American-based. Almost.
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The one name, the one outlier, is Dest, who was cleared by AC Milan to fly across the Atlantic Ocean for this match. It's a message, and a clear one at that.
His loan spell with the Serie A side has proven a disaster. He hasn't played since January, and Milan have little intention of putting him on the field any time soon. That they have allowed Dest to leave the squad to play a meaningless international in the week of their crucial Champions League quarter-final second leg against Napoli speaks volumes.
Dest, then, is approaching a crossroads. His club career is totally uncertain and, as a result, so too is his spot in the national team.
Getty ImagesA disastrous loan spell
On the surface, joining Milan seemed like a solid move for Dest.
He'd never quite convinced Xavi at Barcelona, and playing time seemed like it would be hard to come by at Camp Nou, despite the Blaugrana's lack of a natural right-back.
Defending Serie A champions Milan, though, looked like a club that could use Dest for their title defense. It felt like a sidestep rather than a step down the ladder, as Dest traded one European titan for another.
It's all gone wrong, though.
He's played less than 700 minutes since joining the Rossoneri, featuring in just 14 games. He's never gotten anywhere close to claiming a consistent role, with Milan having no real reason to play a loan player, especially at this stage of the season.
It all came to a head in February, when Milan's plans for the defender, or lack thereof, became abundantly clear. As the club prepared for the Champions League knockout rounds, Dest was left out of the team's squad. He hasn't played since, and there are no signs that that will change any time soon.
AdvertisementGettyUncertain future
The good news for Dest is that his Milan loan spell will come to an end. The bad news is that what happens after that is all so uncertain.
Xavi remains in charge at Barcelona, and this wasted season at Milan will have done little to convince him to give Dest another go. Barring something shocking, Dest is unlikely to be in Barcelona's plans for the 2023-24 season.
Milan, meanwhile, are not expected to exercise their purchase option (obviously). They, too, will be glad to move on from a player that they never really got anything out of.
So where to next for Dest, a player that still has plenty of potential but some big question marks after this mess of a season? Another loan? A potential permanent move?
Wherever he ends up, the 22-year-old defender will need playing time. He'll have a big decision on his hands as he looks to get his club career back on track this summer.
Getty Images'A unique situation'
Dest's name sticks out in a big way in this USMNT squad. He was a World Cup starter, after all, and remains a player that many believe is key for the future of the national team.
But, while team-mates like Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna and Weston McKennie play big games in Europe, Dest is in Glendale with an experimental USMNT roster largely filled with young MLS talent. It's not how things are supposed to be.
But it is how they are and, for Dest and the USMNT, it is an opportunity. He will get the chance to play and build some confidence for the first time in a while, and the USMNT have an opportunity to help rebuild a player that remains an important part of the national team plans ahead of a busy summer featuring the Gold Cup and Nations League.
“With the way we select the next two or three squads, there’s going to be all these unique situations with players, and Sergino, first of all, we’re so grateful to the club for allowing him to come to this game and play against Mexico,” USMNT interim coach Anthony Hudson said last week.
“He was great in the World Cup. We love having him around the team. And not only that, he wants to come and he wants to play in the game."
Given the travel situation and his recent lack of gametime, expect Dest to get plenty of minutes against Mexico.
Getty ImagesDest's national team place
Dest has been, and remains, a pillar of the national team, but his place isn't guaranteed by any means. There are plenty of solid right-backs in the pool, even if, at least so far, none have been able to unseat Dest.
Joe Scally could be, and probably should be, in line for more minutes given his career so far at Borussia Monchengladbach. Bryan Reynolds seems to be earning another chance as well, having shined during his own loan spell away from Roma.
Veterans like DeAndre Yedlin and Reggie Cannon are still in the mix, while World Cup squad member Shaq Moore remains involved too.
All of that is to say that Dest's place is certainly not at risk, but is also not safe. There's still a long road to 2026, so who knows where everyone stands by the time the World Cup rolls around.
However, for the short and long term, this is an important summer for Dest to steady his club career as he looks to hold off challengers for that right-back spot.