Dean Huijsen goes into pre-season with a simple target, to force his way back into Real Madrid's thinking after an uneven first year. He is set to return to training from the first day of pre-season on Monday, while many of the club’s international players are still away. That gives him an early stretch of work, and a cleaner stage than the one he had for much of last season.
Huijsen's first year and the opening he now has
Huijsen’s Club World Cup games under Xabi Alonso were among Real Madrid’s brightest moments before his form dipped later in the season. That earlier run matters because it showed the version of him the club initially bought into. Real Madrid signed him from Bournemouth FC for €58 million last year, and the article says that made him the club’s most expensive defender in history.
The recent numbers are not the story of a player who has been written off. Across his last five Real Madrid matches, he averaged 7.1 and played 370 minutes. That is a useful platform for a defender trying to reset his standing, especially when pre-season offers the chance to make a strong first impression before the squad is fully assembled.
Mourinho's backing and the fight for minutes
Jose Mourinho's arrival also helps sharpen the picture. He said Huijsen had all the qualities needed to become one of the world’s best center-backs. That is the kind of public backing players usually want when they are trying to re-establish themselves, even if it does not hand him a place automatically.
The competition is still serious. Huijsen must compete with Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao and new signing Ibrahima Konate for a starting place, with another centre-back still possible. Real Madrid also won 4 of their last 5 La Liga matches and finished 2nd with 86 points, so this is not a side short on standards or short on options.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Huijsen's primary objective is to establish himself once again at Real Madrid and earn a return to the Spanish national team through consistent performances. That is the right framing for him now. The club clearly still sees a path for him, but Monday’s return to training is the first chance to make that case in front of Mourinho and the rest of the squad.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →