Called up for the first time by Luis de la Fuente for La Roja, young Dean Huijsen could take advantage of this international break to establish himself among the big boys. But it’s his club future that’s particularly intriguing: his name is constantly being discussed by Real Madrid, who are looking for defensive reinforcements after a season (once again) marred by injuries.
Back in December, 19-year-old Dean Huijsen’s name was already linked to the Casa Blanca, while Real Madrid’s defensive line was still struggling. Since then, nothing has really changed (Dani Carvajal and Eder Militão are still injured, David Alaba is struggling to regain his form, and Ferland Mendy has even been admitted to the injury room as well). With Madrid’s management having made no signings in the winter transfer window, the only real source of satisfaction in defense remains the emergence of Raúl Asencio, who has continued to impress since his first La Liga appearance in early November.
So Real Madrid continues to seek a bargain in the transfer market, and that’s where central defender Dean Huijsen, currently playing for Bournemouth in the Premier League, enters the fray. According to AS journalist Joaquín Maroto, the young international ticks all the boxes. But given the Madrid management’s policy in recent years, his €50 million release clause could be a hindrance to his recruitment. However, the central defender’s case could be handled differently, given his idyllic profile: 19 years old, Spanish, imposing (1.97m), ambidextrous, an excellent passer, and, as a bonus, a Madrid-like disposition passed down from his father, who has already visited the Valdebebas facilities. He had rejected Real Madrid in 2021
In an interview with the EFE news agency, Huijsen responded to Real Madrid’s possible interest: “It’s a source of pride that such a big team is interested in you, it’s something special, and it means you’re doing well.” In 2021, despite his admiration for Sergio Ramos, whom he considers “the best center-back in history,” and an offer from Real Madrid already on the table, he preferred to join Juventus to “improve defensively.”
“You never know how it would have turned out. It was a very good option, but at the time, I thought the best thing was to learn a bit of defense, and I think I learned.” It remains to be seen whether Florentino Perez will dig deep into his pocket next summer and convince the young Spaniard to join Madrid’s rearguard, which could then be made up of very young players like Huijsen, Asencio or Joan Martínez.
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