Thread | Interview from @MikeVerweij with Sergiño Dest after completing his move from Ajax to Barcelona.

Dest: “Until 2 weeks ago, I thought I was going to play for Bayern Munich. Eventually I started to think more and more about a transfer to Barcelona instead.” [telegraaf]

Dest: “I believe Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time, so it will be beautiful to play alongside him. I will run the lungs out of my body for him (laughs).”

Dest: “Relief is not the right word for this transfer, because I was still very much enjoying myself at Ajax. But it’s true that this transfer took very long. With this move to such a beautiful club, a dream comes true. I’m only starting to realize it now.”

Dest: “Of course in my head I was busy with a possible transfer to Bayern or Barça, but I couldn’t influence whether it would happen or not, so I just played my games. I knew that my agent would take care of it all in a good way."

Dest: “Me and Ronald Koeman spoke to each other multiple times through phone-calls. I need to find my way at a new club and it’s always nice if you already know people who are going to help you, and who also also speak the same language. (Schreuder/Frenkie/Kluivert/Koeman)."

Ajax will receive a total of €26M thanks to this transfer.

Dest: “I am happy with that. I have so much to thank to this club. A move has to be good for all parties that are involved. And with this transfer, that’s the case. I leave Ajax with a very warm feeling.”

Dest: “The corona-crisis was hard. Playing games is the most beautiful thing to do for me, and I couldn’t. I found it very hard. But I picked myself up by deciding to train 2 or 3 times per day and focus on my ‘weak’ points with physical training sessions.”

On the internet there are lots of clips circulating where new signings all of a sudden are not able to juggle a ball anymore at their presentation.

Dest: “Haha, I am not afraid of that, of course not. I am never nervous and I can juggle a ball.”

Dest: “The club sees in me the new right-back of Barça, the number 2 that I received also shows that they have a lot of confidence in me. I hope to achieve a starting spot as soon as possible, I will give everything for that.”

Dest: “I have to work very hard and enforce it myself. I think that with my drive, speed and stamina I can be a huge threat for the team on the right side of the pitch.”

End of thread.