Sergiño Dest showcased his potential for greatness against Real Madrid

In a match filled with controversy and disappointment, Barcelona fans should not overlook the stellar performance of American Sergiño Dest.

Nothing is guaranteed this season given the crisis that the club is living through.

Lionel Messi and manager Ronald Koeman came into the year with short term commitments, and after the Bayern Munich embarrassment, we learned that many of the veteran players are no longer able to perform at the highest level.

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Add to that the precarious financial picture that prevented Barcelona from making significant signings, and the reality becomes clear that the future is unpredictable.

But one signing that Barcelona managed to capture was that of Dest.  Ironically, they beat out Bayern Munich at the final hour because Dest himself fancied the romantic possibility of becoming a Barca legend.

Against the Bavarians it was made abundantly clear the impact that full backs can make on a game.  Fellow North American Alphonso Davies rocketed to fame last year as one of the best left full backs in the world, and he may be responsible for why Nelson Semedo is no longer playing in the Catalan capital.

Barcelona were reminded that during the glory days of Pep Guardiola, Dani Alves was one of the most critical players in the success of team, and helped make Messi into the player he is today.  During those years, Barca was lethal down the right flank.  Alves and Messi would combine for incredible goals, and the team had a full back whose first instinct was to serve dangerous balls into the box.

Under Luis Enrique, Sergi Roberto was converted into the right fullback to replace Alves.  This was supposed to be a short term solution, but as time passed Barcelona took for granted the importance of the position, and focused all their attention on bringing in the most expensive forwards in the world.

With the signing of Sergiño Dest comes hope that the club has finally remedied this lingering problem.  Against Real Madrid on Saturday we got a sense for what the 19 year old American can provide.

Going into the match the biggest challenge for Dest was shutting down the attacks of Vinicius Junior, and keeping Ferland Mendy contained.

In the end Dest was impossible to get past, and Real Madrid was unable to generate any danger on his side of the field.  In 1 v 1 situations in particular he was an absolute wall.  There were a few highlight worthy tackles in particular that announced to the world he was unafraid and ready for the spotlight.

This revelation is huge for a Barcelona team that has desperately needed speed and strength from its defenders, but has found it lacking in recent years.

On the offensive side Dest made some promising runs up the field where he was able to demonstrate skill and the courage to take defenders on.  One area that could be improved however are his crosses, none of which were particularly threatening.  If he can develop this part of his game Dest will be considered a complete fullback, and he will be playing in the position for the Blaugrane for a long time.

Dest was the silver lining of the game.  While it’s exciting to pay attention to the other teenagers, Ansu Fati and Pedri, on the attacking end of the field, the one who can make the biggest impact on the team is the American.

Barcelona desperately need Dest to live up to the expectations.  If he does they will have a new attacking threat on the right side, which has been alarmingly quiet in recent memory, and a shutdown defender who can keep opponents in check.

Dest has already made the history books becoming the first American player to feature in a Clasico, and he showed that we should all believe the hype.