Dean Huijsen’s revival: From World Cup snub to Real Madrid starter under Mourinho | OneFootball

Dean Huijsen is proving he belongs at Real Madrid, and this time the numbers back it up.

The 21-year-old centre-back has started every minute of Real Madrid’s opening three matches this season, against Espanyol, Real Sociedad and Malaga.

This puts him in the same bracket as Thibaut Courtois and Kylian Mbappe as the only ever-present players in Jose Mourinho’s side so far. 

For what it is worth, it is a striking turnaround for a player whose first season in Spain went nothing like Madrid had hoped.

Signed from Bournemouth for €50 million, Huijsen began last season as a regular starter under Xabi Alonso before his form dipped sharply. 

By the time Alvaro Arbeloa took charge, he had been pushed to the margins and was facing open criticism, a slide that ultimately cost him a place in the Spanish World Cup squad.

Mourinho’s defensive leader

Dean Huijsen has played every minute under Mourinho. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

Rather than let last season define him, Huijsen used pre-season to rebuild. 

He now wears the number 4 shirt, a symbolic reset after his previous campaign, and has reclaimed a starting role that looked far from guaranteed just months ago.

The cherry on top was Mourinho addressing Huijsen’s form directly after Real Madrid thrashed Malaga.

The Real Madrid boss was careful not to draw comparisons to the player’s difficult first season, stating, 

“I don’t want to compare him with last year because I don’t know the dynamic. 

“What I’ve found is that we talk because I like a centre-back who has quality on the ball and can play passes between the lines,” Mourinho said.

Huijsen is Mourinho’s preferred centre-back. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The Portuguese coach then set out exactly what he wants to see from the defender going forward. 

“For me, the important thing is that he is strong, wins duels and gives confidence. He has evolved quite a lot in a short time,” Mourinho added.

Mourinho has a genuine selection dilemma

Real Madrid spent significant money to sign him as a long-term centre-back option, and a second inconsistent season would have raised serious questions about that investment.

However, his current run has put him ahead of Antonio Rudiger and Ibrahima Konate in the pecking order, a pairing that has yet to feature together this season despite both being established figures in Madrid’s defence. 

However, Mourinho agrees that competition for places will be one of the more interesting subplots of the season’s opening months.

Which is why, after three straight wins to start the campaign, it will be interesting to see whether Mourinho sticks with Huijsen or turns to Rudiger and Konate for a tougher away test against Real Betis.