The year 2025 has been a whirlwind for Dean Huijsen. What began as an unexpected call-up to the Spanish national team due to Íñigo Martínez’s injury ended up solidifying him as a reliable piece in Real Madrid’s defensive structure. In his conversation with Radio MARCA, the young center-back reflected on the past months with a calmness unusual for a 19-year-old. Composed, direct and free of theatrics, he made it clear that his only obsession is growth: “I focus on myself. I try to improve every day.”

His rise has been so rapid that it is still surprising to see his name so firmly attached to the elite, but Huijsen remains unfazed. From his time at Roma to his arrival at the Bernabéu, he has learned that noise is inevitable, especially at the most scrutinized club in the world. “Madrid is massive. It’s normal that people talk so much,” he said, adding that he doesn’t follow sports media. His routine, he insists, remains unchanged: train, go home and little else.

A Demanding Locker Room and a Message of Support for Lamine

His adaptation at Valdebebas had a crucial support system: the guidance of veterans like Kepa and Andoni, who helped him understand from the inside what it means to wear the white shirt. That pressure is always present, but Huijsen has already learned how to handle it: “If you have a bad match, it feels like the world is ending. But the season is very long.”

The defender also discussed the national team environment, where players from rival clubs coexist naturally. According to him, that dynamic dismantles many external narratives. It was in that context that he defended Lamine Yamal, in the midst of the latest wave of criticism toward the Barcelona winger. “Lamine is normal; he’s 18. Things get exaggerated sometimes. It happened to me too,” he said. He also criticized the harsh media treatment of Vinícius: “He’s an incredible player and a really good guy. He gets punished too much.”

World Cup Ambition and a Spanish Team Finding Its Rhythm

When it comes to the future, Huijsen doesn’t hide. His dream is the World Cup, but with champion-level ambition. “I don’t just want to go and participate. I want to win it,” he stated. At the Real Madrid locker room, the World Cup banter is constant, with players like Bellingham, Mbappé and the Brazilians already staking their claims as favorites.

Meanwhile, the Spanish national team completed its final training session in Las Rozas before traveling to Tbilisi for the match against Georgia, where they will look to seal qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Luis de la Fuente could bring Huijsen back into the starting XI, along with Fabián Ruiz, and will need to reshape the attack without the injured Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.

With a blend of calmness, ambition and respect for the locker room, Huijsen is emerging as one of Spain’s key figures for the present and future. His message about Lamine reinforces it: he understands pressure better than most, and he has no intention of leaving a young teammate to face it alone.