United States men’s national team and PSV defender Sergiño Dest is loving life at his new club and playing with supreme confidence. The Dest nutmeg vs Arsenal from Tuesday’s Champions League game is a prime example.
During the game, Dest bested Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior with a nutmeg that looked like it was straight out of an old “Jogo Bonito” video. Destinho was cooking with his move.
What made the skill move even better was his teammates’ reactions to the nutmeg.
Sergiño Dest nutmeg vs Arsenal
OMG! SERGIÑO DEST. pic.twitter.com/Y8qkBLIO3z
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 12, 2023
PSV winger Johan Bakayoko had by far the funniest reaction as his mouth nearly hit the floor. Meanwhile Ismael Saibari was left speechless and could only put his hands to his head.
Bakayoko’s reaction to Sergino Dest’s skill move is cracking me up pic.twitter.com/76ARhJW4Yj
— andrew (@kevinparedesfan) December 12, 2023
What the video didn’t show was that Dest’s cross after the nutmeg was rather weak and cleared at the near post. Perhaps it’s for the best that the five seconds following the nutmeg were left out.
Poor cross aside, Dest has found new life in his club play following a disastrous 2022-23 season on loan with AC Milan. He was essentially banished from the squad and totaled just 14 appearances and four starts.
With PSV he’s a guaranteed starter and has been playing extremely well. Barcelona loaned him to the Dutch club in August.
Dest’s nutmeg came near the end of the game as he was rested and came on as a substitute for the final 13 minutes. Both Arsenal and PSV had already secured a place in the Round of 16 and Arsenal’s No. 1 spot in the group wasn’t going to change even with a PSV win.
The sides drew 1-1 as Dest’s fellow USMNT teammates on PSV, Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman, helped set up a goal.
MALIK TILLMAN ➡️ RICARDO PEPI ➡️ YORBE VERTESSEN
First #UCL goal for the 22-year-old. pic.twitter.com/gsVlI90uce— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 12, 2023
Skills and highlights like the nutmeg against Arsenal might slowly free Dest from the USMNT doghouse. The fanbase is still working on forgiving him over the ridiculous red card vs. Trinidad and Tobago.
