Real Madrid has had a major problem this season with its defense, which is currently at its strongest. Throughout the season, the defensive line has been a burden to carry due to poor performance and the constant plague of injuries that Carlo Ancelotti has had to deal with in his farewell season.
With the season just getting underway, Dani Carvajal and Eder Milittao were ruled out with long-term injuries. Two undisputed starters were lost when Alaba had not yet recovered, Vallejo was not available, and Rüdiger was suffering from unspeakable pain in his knee. Faced with this situation, the Italian coach opted not to call up the youth team but instead to convert Tchouaméni to center back. He was slow to give Asencio a chance, who has been key all season, and ended up burning the French midfielder.
A French midfielder who, in recent games, has returned to the heart of the defense in the extreme situation Real Madrid is going through, which last night had to face Mallorca with 12 players out and only 10 first-team players available. Of those absences, either directly or indirectly, six were in the defensive line: Rüdiger, Alaba, Mendy, Lucas Vázquez, and the converted Camavinga and Tchouaméni, who was suspended.
Xabi Alonso does not want to inherit the problem at the back
The arrival of Xabi Alonso is close and the Spanish coach does not want to inherit the defensive problems that Ancelotti has had. Beyond the recovery of some injured players ahead of the World Cup, he needs reinforcements and Real Madrid is going to give them to him.
The first signing for the defensive line was Alexander-Arnold who, pending official confirmation, will be a Real Madrid player on June 1 and will therefore be available to occupy the right flank of the defense ahead of the World Cup transfer window.
The other reinforcements for the back line that are being worked on are a left back, presumably Álvaro Carreras, and a center back. The center back will be Dean Huijsen, and in the last few hours, key steps have been taken to finalize his signing ahead of the FIFA summer tournament.
Deal done, Real Madrid signs Huijsen
After several months of rumors and contacts, the signing of the young center back from Bournemouth and the Spanish national team, Dean Huijsen, has accelerated in a matter of days, to the point that the announcement of the signing seems all but imminent. The main issue in the negotiations was to significantly reduce the release clause stipulated at £50 million.
According to MARCA, there will be no reduction and Real Madrid will pay the full amount. The Whites will pay the £50 million clause (around €59.3 million) in three installments. There is talk of an initial payment of around £20 million. Given his youth, this is a long-term investment.
The player had other powerful suitors in the major European leagues, but his desire to play for Real Madrid is said to have played an important role in the final decision. Given the team’s urgent need, if everything is confirmed, the club wants to take advantage of the FIFA transfer window from June 1 to 10 to register Huijsen and have him play in the Club World Cup.