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American international Sergino Dest says he is happy to play on the left or right after making his debut for Barcelona in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Sevilla FC at the Camp Nou.
19-year-old Dest joined Barça on Thursday for € 21 million and, after a nervous wait, was finally authorized by La Liga to be included in the call for the match against Sevilla hours before kick-off.
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The former Ajax defender started on the bench, but was called into action in the 75th minute when left-back Jordi Alba was injured.
Dest became the first American to represent Barça’s senior team in an official match (Konrad de la Fuente, who was also on the bench, has participated in friendlies), but was asked to play on the left instead of the right.
“I can play anywhere, I don’t care,” Dest told reporters after the game. “If the coach [Ronald Koeman] you need me left, no problem.
“I am very happy to debut and grateful for the confidence that the coach has shown in me. But I would have liked to add the three points instead of one, because that’s the most important thing.
“But it’s an incredible feeling to make my debut for Barcelona and play in this stadium, the stadium of my dreams, even though there were no fans.”
Sevilla took the lead thanks to Luuk de Jong in the eighth minute, but Barcelona drew almost immediately with Philippe Coutinho’s first goal of the season.
Both teams had a chance of winning an even game, although the best opportunities fell on Barça. Antoine Griezmann missed two and substitute Francisco Trincao shot directly at Sevilla goalkeeper Bono as he passed the one-on-one at the end.
“Griezmann had his moments today,” Barça coach Koeman said at a press conference. “And of the two occasions he had, due to the quality he has as a player, he had to score one of them.”
Koeman also felt that Barca could have had a penalty for a foul on Lionel Messi at the end of the game, but said “we have to accept” the VAR ruling.
The draw against Sevilla ended Barça’s winning start to the season after back-to-back victories over Villarreal and Celta de Vigo, but Koeman wasn’t too dejected.
“I am happy with the performance of the team,” he said. “The team was tired after [three games in seven days] but we fight to the end against a great opponent.
“Sevilla pressured us well. Our problem was that our game with the ball was not what we would like. Sevilla play good football, press well and are physically stronger than us. They are a first-rate team.”
On Dest’s debut, he added: “He is a young player with a lot of confidence, despite being here only three days. It is positive that it is like this. We are very happy. He can play on the right or on the left.”
