Sergino Dest, the 23-year-old right-back who played for Milan on loan in the 2022-2023 season, spoke to the microphones of The Athletic about several topics, including AC Milan.
Here's what the American, currently at Ajax, said:
"Milan? I loved it but just wasn’t ready. It was a really big lesson. If I go to another place, I have to be mentally ready."
Dest did not find it easy convincing the then-Milan head coach Stefano Pioli that he should be a regular. He started just four games for Milan, including a 3-0 Champions League group-stage loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge that October.
“That night I played my worst game ever. I was new in the team and the players didn’t understand my playing style. With one-twos and stuff, I didn’t feel the connection, and I was unfocused — just not with the game. It still sticks with me.I give myself a three (out of 10) that night. I was bad, man, and I know it. I accept it. I learned a lot from it. Later, I got in a rhythm in the team that was really good. I was one of the top guys in training and then started playing and they gave me the ball more on the right side. We had Rafael Leao on the left. Then I played a good World Cup but when I came back, I had a few issues with the coach.”
Dest wanted to learn the Italian, but his relationship with Stefano Pioli made the whole situation difficult...
"I couldn’t communicate with him (Pioli). He speaks only Italian, so we had to have an interpreter. I didn’t play much and being on loan, I wasn’t so motivated to learn Italian. I began to think I wouldn’t be there that long. Mentally, I wasn’t ready. I was too much in my head about Barca and I didn’t fully appreciate what a big club Milan is. I hadn’t left Barca the right way and I felt hurt. Milan would have been a perfect club. It’s unfortunate how it happened. I was 21. I didn’t even understand why I wasn’t playing at the time. I thought they’d brought me on loan to play. I’ve felt everything at the highest level and I know what to do to get back there."
