Dean Huijsen has received a warning that a move to Real Madrid, while seemingly a dream, could quickly become his worst nightmare.
The central defender for Bournemouth is attracting significant interest from Real Madrid after a remarkable first season in the Premier League.
The Spanish club is reportedly ready to activate Huijsen`s £50 million release clause, for a contract extending to 2030.
However, Juan Gutierrez, Huijsen`s former coach, believes that joining Real Madrid now would be a step backward for the 19-year-old. Gutierrez suggests that Huijsen might find it challenging to secure regular playing time at the Spanish giants.
According to Gutierrez, it would be more beneficial for Huijsen to remain with Bournemouth for the time being. He believes that staying would allow Huijsen to continue his development and attract even more interest from top clubs in the future.
Juan Gutierrez, who coached Huijsen at Malaga from the age of ten, recalls Juventus signing him in 2021, even though Real Madrid were also interested at the time.
Gutierrez has been consistently impressed by Huijsen`s leadership skills since he was young. However, he fears that these qualities might be stifled at Real Madrid, a club known for favoring established players over emerging talents.
Juanito stated, “Dean is a natural leader, regardless of where he plays. It’s crucial that whichever club signs him sees him as a starter, not just a prospect for the future. He is ready to play now.”
He added, “Players with his qualities at his age are rare. This is why I question if joining Real Madrid is the right move for him at this stage.”
“No one can guarantee playing time based on reputation alone. If he decides to leave Bournemouth, it should be to join a team where he will be a key player, not a benchwarmer.”
“At Real Madrid, they have Eder Militao, who is 27, and Antonio Rudiger, who is performing at his peak.”
“Even a returning David Alaba would likely be ahead of Huijsen in the pecking order.”
“Carlo Ancelotti is a fantastic manager, but he isn`t particularly known for developing young players. Realistically, Dean would be fourth-choice centre-back. That’s the current situation.”
“Barcelona operates differently. They are more inclined to integrate academy players into the first team. Real Madrid`s club philosophy poses a challenge for young players. Dean needs to choose a club that has a clear vision for his future and where he’s guaranteed opportunities to play.”
“Perhaps the best course of action is for him to spend another season at Bournemouth under Andoni Iraola.”
So far, things have gone well for Huijsen. He has already been capped by Spain in the Nations League and is expected to play for Bournemouth in their upcoming match against West Ham on Saturday.
Comparisons to Ramos and Van Dijk
Juanito is confident that Huijsen`s Spain cap is just the beginning of a long international career. Some have compared Huijsen to Sergio Ramos, but Juanito believes he has the potential to be as influential as Virgil van Dijk has been for Liverpool.
He elaborated, “Mentally, there are some similarities to Ramos, but their playing styles are quite different. Dean is more disciplined and, especially at this age, more self-assured.”
“From the beginning, he was exceptional. He was attentive to coaching, absorbed information quickly, and consistently improved, learning from his mistakes.”
“Dean plays without pressure and possesses immense confidence.”
“If he remains injury-free, whichever team secures him will get a bargain. He is destined to be a dominant defender in world football for many years.
“However, Real Madrid might be the one team where he won`t have the transformative impact he could have elsewhere, unlike the impact Van Dijk had at Liverpool.”
