Real Madrid saw a clear need in defense and moved quickly in the transfer market. With the season still underway, the club announced the signing of Dean Huijsen for the center of the defense. The player was coming off a great season with Bournemouth and shone with the Spanish national team, which convinced the Whites to put €58 million on the table for his signing. Now they have been pleasantly surprised by his quick performance.
Dean Huijsen, the man of the Club World Cup
The signing of Dean Huijsen looked like a good move from the start, but his great performance from the moment he put on the Real Madrid shirt has left many speechless. Against Al Hilal, Huijsen was the one who brought order and vision to the game. It was well known that his passing and control of the ball were one of his strengths, and he has made that clear from the start with his great vision, threading impossible passes and showing great control of the ball.
In defense, apart from one isolated mistake, he is proving to be solid. In Sunday’s game against Pachuca, he confirmed himself as one of Xabi Alonso’s best signings for the starting eleven, showing confidence in his tackling, outstanding ball control, and once again finding the perfect passes to break lines. He is proving to be a very complete defender with personality who is putting on a show every game.
The statistics prove it. In the last two games, Dean Huijsen leads Real Madrid in total passes (127), passes to break lines (31), passes into the final third (11), clearances (10), and aerial clearances (6), according to data published by Diario AS.
Xabi believes he can still give more
Despite the center back’s great performance in the Club World Cup matches, his coach is convinced that the player has not yet reached his peak and sees room for improvement as the team’s concepts and chemistry develop. “He’s another one of our pillars, and he’s shown the personality he brings to the field. With the national team and with us. In matches and on a daily basis. He’s a great signing. We have to support him, push him, because he has room for improvement. He can’t relax. But I’m happy to have Dean with us.”
New partner in defense
For tonight’s game against Salzburg, Dean Huijsen will have a new partner in central defense due to the suspension of Raúl Asencio. In principle, his partner in central defense will be Antonio Rüdiger, although it cannot be ruled out that it could be Tchouaméni if the German is not yet 100% fit to play a demanding game from start to finish. The player will return to the starting lineup two months later. After the harsh suspension he received in the Copa del Rey final on April 26, the player took the opportunity to undergo surgery to resolve knee problems that had caused him to play for months in excruciating pain.