“It felt amazing. The first couple days I didn’t realize that much, but when I look back I said, ‘Wow, I play for Barcelona.’ I’m just realizing right now, seeing all the photos and videos again. It’s an amazing feeling. It was an emotional moment for me when I came on.”
Now more settled, he’s hungry to become a mainstay with one of the powers of world football. He’s also pumped about being one of the flag bearers among a number of young Americans making inroads with big clubs in Europe, and what that could mean for the U.S. Men’s National Team in the coming years.
“I think everybody feels the excitement. I think because we have more players that play for big clubs, that’s the reason everybody is excited that we can really achieve something in the World Cup. Everybody has to keep motivated and hungry. I feel like we can do it. If we just work hard and work as a team, everything can be achieved. I’m also really excited to see how the team is in the next few years.”
Making the Move
It’s not like Dest wasn’t already playing in a big environment. A product of the famed Ajax Academy, the defender rose through the ranks and made his first-team debut for Holland’s biggest club at age 18 last July.
Still in his teens and with just one season in the Eredivisie under his belt, it would have been completely normal for him to stay with Ajax for another year, but big clubs came calling.
The reigning German and European champions Bayern Munich appeared to be the frontrunners for a while, but when interest came from Barcelona his focus shifted to a club he had always dreamed of representing -- one where he could be further challenged.
“I felt that I like challenges, so if I’m going to this club, I will develop because I see what I have to improve on the most. It’s just a big challenge for me, and it just keeps motivating me to develop myself all the time … I dreamed of this all the time. Now I get an opportunity to play for such a big club like this, so I should take it and try. I think I can learn a lot of things from all those players. The best player in the world is here – Messi – and I can learn a lot from them.”
And in an interesting twist, Ronald Koeman – formerly the Netherlands manager who tried to convince Dest to play for his National Team just last fall – finally secured his services, now as the manager at Camp Nou.
