USMNT defender Sergino Dest is out of the Copa America after confirming he has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Dest, 23, suffered the set-back during a training session in April with PSV Eindhoven, where he is on loan from Barcelona.
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The right-back — who has been capped 33 times by the USMNT — will now miss this summer’s tournament in the United States and he could be sidelined for up to nine months.
In a video posted on his social media, Dest said: “I want to give you an update on my injury myself.
I was pretty suprised
When I heard about the news
I never thought that this would happen to me!
It’s a difficult time
But i’ll face it
Come back stronger
And make y’all proud again
Thanks for all the messages and support! 🙏🏽❤️#beastmode pic.twitter.com/ek0ZHACwmz— Sergiño Dest (@sergino_dest) May 1, 2024
“I tore my ACL. Hearing that was very painful. I will be out for a long period of time. Soon I will be operated on and then I will begin work on my recovery.
“It will be tough on me but I know that I will come out of this stronger, that’s one thing for sure. It is now to hope for the best and find the old version of myself again.”
Dest has scored two goals across 37 appearances for PSV this season, with his loan in place until June and his deal with parent club Barcelona expiring in June 2025.
The USMNT begin their Copa America group stage on June 23 against Bolivia before taking on Panama and Uruguay.
(Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
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