Ajax right-back Sergino Dest has said that, as a child, he always pictured himself playing for the Dutch national side.

Dest, 18, could still pledge his allegiance to either the United States or Netherlands, despite having made two friendly appearances for the USMNT.

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He recently said he made himself unavailable for selection for both national sides in this international break in order to take more time to decide his future.

"When I thought of football when I was younger, it was always Ajax or the Dutch team," Dest said in an interview with U.S. club teammate Alex Mendez, published on the Ajax website.

"Never the U.S. But I haven't been approached by the Dutch team."

Asked whether not being contacted by the Netherlands had been a factor in his decision, he added: "Maybe."

Dest grew up in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and American father. However, Dutch has always been his first language and Dest said it was only when he visited the U.S. that he began to embrace his American heritage.

"My father is from Brooklyn, but we spoke Dutch at home," Dest said. "Actually, until a few years ago, my English was very poor.

"I wasn't thinking of my American roots at all until I went to play in an American youth team. From that moment, my English improved, and I started to feel more American.

"I realised that: 'Hey, this is my nationality, too.' Now I think it's great to be an American as well. It's an asset and as well. The U.S. passport is one of the best in the world."