Sergiño Dest will likely be sidelined for a lengthy spell, after Barcelona gave details on the injury he suffered against Galatasaray, while offering no timeline for the USMNT player’s return.
The American defender appeared to injure his left leg while making a fine tackle early in the second half in Barcelona’s 2-1 victory over the Turkish team on Thursday night, eventually limping off the field in clear pain.
In an announcement today, the team confirmed the feared news, stating that it was indeed a hamstring injury.
“Tests this Friday 18 March on Sergiño Dest have confirmed an injury to the biceps femoris muscle in his left hamstring, and he will be unavailable until he recovers,” Barcelona stated through their website on Friday.
Dest had performed well up to that point in the game, with the club waxing poetic about his time on the field prior to the injury.
“The full back started Thursday’s Europa League game with Galatasaray, and performed brilliantly both in attack and defence, but had to leave the pitch on 56 minutes after getting hurt while breaking down a Turkish attack.”
With the team giving no timeline for his return, the injury appears to be more than simply a minor pull, which could leave the player out for some time as the European season enters into its final two months.
This is only the latest health issue for Dest, who has had multiple absences since late-October for various reasons.
He had seemingly worked his way into the graces of head coach Xavi as of late; while still playing second-fiddle to club legend Dani Alves in most La Liga games, he was the locked-in starter for their Europa League run, and was also featuring in league play whenever the 38 year-old Brazilian’s legs needed a break.
The Blaugrana still have 11 league games left to play before the finale in late-May, and up to five additional Europa League games, depending on how far they continue to advance in the knockout round.
They just drew Eintracht Frankfurt for their quarterfinal matchup, however it is highly likely that the two games, set for April 7 and 14, will be much too soon for the American to participate.
