It was a night of celebration at the Etihad Stadium for Manchester City—but for Dean Huijsen, it turned into a harsh reality check. The 19-year-old defender, who was recently confirmed as a new Real Madrid signing, endured a rough outing in Bournemouth’s 3-1 loss on May 20, in what was his final Premier League appearance before joining the Spanish giants.

Nervous and Overwhelmed

From the opening minutes at the Etihad Stadium, Huijsen looked nervous. He was booked early and never managed to settle against a Manchester City side playing with fluidity and aggression. On the hosts’ second goal, he was caught out of position after a poor clearance to the middle, which Bernardo Silva pounced on to score.

Cameras caught Huijsen’s frustrated expressions, and clips of his shaky performance quickly began circulating on Spanish social media, casting early doubts on his readiness for the Bernabéu spotlight.

A Party for Some, A Nightmare for Others

As Kevin De Bruyne received a hero’s farewell in his final home match for City, Huijsen was one of Bournemouth’s most criticized players on the night. The Cherries, with nothing left to play for, closed their season quietly—while the young Dutch-Spanish defender was left to reflect on a night to forget.

Now headed for Madrid, Huijsen carries with him expectations, projection—and now, early skepticism. Time will tell if this was just a bad night… or a warning sign of the challenges to come.