Sergino Dest has flown home from Ajax’s midseason training camp in Qatar as he does not feel comfortable in the region amid political tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
But following the death of General Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. military air strike and Iran’s retaliation on a U.S. military base in Iraq, Dest requested to fly back to the Netherlands.
“Sergino Dest asked if he could leave the training camp of Ajax in Qatar,” a statement from Ajax read. “He did not feel comfortable. Ajax understands his request and has responded to it.”
Dest will now train with Ajax’s reserves until the first team arrive back on Jan. 12. His decision comes five days after the USMNT opted to postpone their January training camp in Qatar due to the “developing situation in the region.”
Ajax flew to Qatar on Jan. 4, but sources close to the club have told ESPN they opted for a private plane, rather than a commercial flight due to the increasing political tension in the Middle East. The private jet enabled them to fly over Egypt and Saudi Arabia, rather than over Iran and Iraq.
Eredivisie rivals PSV are also in Qatar, after opting for a commercial flight, but are seeking alternatives to fly back to the Netherlands as the airspace above Iran and Iraq has not yet been deemed fully safe.
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