Real Madrid still trusts Dean Huijsen despite his struggles. The $64.8M defender aims to regain his starting role and earn a World Cup spot.
Real Madrid enters the final stretch of the season to extend Barcelona's league title celebration as long as possible after a campaign that will end trophy-less for the first time since 2021.
The period of reflection also begins for Alvaro Arbeloa's squad and, above all, for the reinforcements made last summer. One of the most impactful signings was Dean Huijsen, who surprised with his maturity in the Premier League.
However, after a great start to the season, he raised doubts after a period of frustration, during which he even received whistles from the fans at the Bernabeu. Although the club still fully trusts the Spanish international, according to Defensa Central.
In the executive offices of Chamartin, it is believed that Huijsen, 21, has completed a first season of learning and adaptation and has been recovering in recent weeks. The defender seeks to dispel the skepticism of some, but the institution has no doubts about the former Bournemouth player and considers that next season must be the one for his competitive explosion.
Real Madrid invested up to $64.8 million in the center-back, becoming the most expensive defender in the club's history, while also spending $51.3 million on Alvaro Carreras and about $6.5 million on Trent Alexander-Arnold.
With Eder Militao's long-term injury, Huijsen can regain his undisputed starting status, gaining weight at Madrid in the final league games and strengthening his candidacy to go to the World Cup with the Spanish national team.
The defender is expected to make Luis de la Fuente's final list for the FIFA tournament to be played in the United States, Mexico, and Canada between June 11 and July 19, but the high competition could leave some surprises, and given Huijsen's irregularity during some moments of the season, no one can take anything for granted.
Weeks ago, Huijsen himself acknowledged making some mistakes that shook his standing in the Madrid locker room.
However, playing alongside figures like Antonio Rudiger on the field gave him greater security and confidence, and Arbeloa's support was highly valued by his entourage.
"I think I've had a period in which I haven't given the level that people know I can give and that I am giving now," the center-back said, but in this time, he has improved, and his pending task is to make a difference, as in the Club World Cup.
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