Real Madrid Players Spark Criticism Over Driving Photo

The controversies with Real Madrid players do not cease. We have just talked about the recent case of Kylian Mbappe riding a bicycle when Jose Mourinho clearly said they should not do it, because it would be a betrayal of him. Now, a photo of midfielder Thiago Pitarch and defender Dean Huijsen went viral on social media because Huijsen, who is the driver, has one hand on the steering wheel and the other on his cell phone. It is worth emphasizing that the player is looking at his phone, not the road.

This action has multiplied the criticism toward the club and its players, who have been showing certain attitudes that are beginning to tire Madridismo. Now, this action by Huijsen is cataloged as "reckless" and also falls into the same category as Mbappe. Because the coach asks his players not to do anything that puts their physique at risk, since an imprudence could keep them off the field for a long time.

It is true that it draws attention that the criticism is now directed at someone other than Mbappe. Being now Huijsen who has had a great season. Reasserting himself as the starting centre-back, just like Ibrahima Konate. After a 2025/26 season in which he was quite irregular, the Amsterdam-born player knew how to move forward and rediscover his best form.

Unfortunately for him, he made a bad decision during the Madrid derby when, seeing that Giuliano Simeone was entering the area alone with the ball under control, he pulled him by the arm, causing the Argentine to fall and a penalty to be awarded in favor of Atletico, resulting in his red card. This happened just as the second half began, which left the team with 10 players for a long time and ended up costing the merengues the defeat.

Now, Pitarch, who is also involved in the topic, is living through a good present. He took advantage of the three weeks of international break — in which he was not called up by the Spain U21 national team — to join Castilla and get playing minutes again, this after a couple of months in which he recovered from an injury that affected the medial collateral ligament of his left knee during the preseason and that, upon receiving medical clearance, Mourinho decided not to grant him minutes.

His participation with the reserve team was good, which led him to play a friendly match with the Spain U20 national team against Mexico. He only played the first half, but it was enough time for him to open the scoring. Thus, he achieved a good performance that he hopes will make the Portuguese consider him for this return to LaLiga, in which Madrid will host Villarreal at the Bernabeu on Oct. 10.