Sergino Dest.
- USMNT player Sergino Dest has left an Ajax training camp in Qatar because he "didn't feel comfortable" amid the ongoing political tensions between the US and Iran.
- American citizens have been urged to flee Iraq "immediately" after the US missile strike which killed Iran's elite Quds Force commander, Qassem Soleimani, in Baghdad last Thursday.
- Qatar neighbours Iran across the Persian Gulf, and is 1,500km south of Iraq.
- "Sergino Dest has asked if he could leave Ajax's training camp in Qatar," says an official statement from Ajax. "He didn't feel comfortable."
- He will now join up with the club's reserve team back in Amsterdam.
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United States international Sergino Dest has left an Ajax training camp in Qatar because he "didn't feel comfortable" amid the ongoing political tensions between the US and Iran.
The US launched a missile strike which killed Iran's elite Quds Force commander, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, in Baghdad last Thursday.
Iran responded with missiles of its own, targeting Iraqi air bases housing US forces, and subsequently US citizens were urged to flee the country "immediately" due to "heightened tensions" in the region.
Qatar neighbours Iran across the Persian Gulf, and is just 1,500km south of Iraq.
"Sergino Dest has asked if he could leave Ajax's training camp in Qatar," says an official statement from Ajax. "He didn't feel comfortable."
Ajax has been in Qatar since January 4, and is set to play friendly matches against Belgian sides Eupen and Club Brugge before returning to begin the second half of the campaign on January 19.
Dest will now miss those games, instead joining up with the club's reserve team back in Amsterdam.
"Ajax understands his request and has responded to it."
Dest was born in the Netherlands, however plays for the United States national team through his American father.
He has made three appearances for Gregg Berhalter's side, the most recent of which came in September 2019 in a 1-1 draw with Uruguay.
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