Huijsen: “Spain is my house, I feel Spanish”

Dean Huijsen was born in Amsterdam, but feels Spanish. Especially, Malaga. His progression in the Bournemouth and the casualties in the center of the defense of the National Team have accelerated the decision of Luis de la Fuente. You can debut precisely before the national team that abandoned for feeling. His idol is Sergio Ramos and, despite the fact that in his day he chose to go to Juventus before Real Madrid, he affirms that it is “a pride” to feel the interest of the white club.

Everything has happened very fast in the life of Huijsen (Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2005). Since the continuity with Andoni Iraola in the Bournemouth, he has taken giant, faithful at his height (1.97).

Lepport and Vivian’s injuries, the posterior of Íñigo Martínez after the list, allow to make the leap to the absolute from the sub-21 to Deanthat in 2024, just receiving the Spanish passport, he decided to close his stage in the lower categories of the Netherlands to leave to play with the country he feels like his.

I always say that Spain is my house, as soon as I can go to Spain and return home. I am Spanish

Dean Huijsen

With the long -term dream of returning to the Malaga of his heart, a city in which he has his life and his childhood friends, Huijsen reflects on his fleeting career. Technicians such as Mourinho, from Rossi, Allegri, now Iraola, have driven the growth of a central in which the big eyes of Europe have positions.

Ask: How is it decided by Spain after being born in Amsterdam and having played in lower categories in the Netherlands?

Answer: I always say that Spain is my house, as soon as I can go to Spain and return home. I am Spanish. I feel Spanish and as soon as the opportunity arose I took it because it is what I feel.

P: Did you make more lived in childhood more than your birthplace?

R: I have lived all my life in Spain and everything in football I did here. My childhood friends are Spanish.

P: So why did you first play with the lower categories of the Netherlands?

R: At first I had no Spanish passport and when the possibility arose to make my passport exprees I made the decision.

Sergio Ramos, for me he has been the best central in history. I had everything

Dean Huijsen

P: Who was an important piece to take that step?

R: At that time was Francis (former director of Cantera de la Selection) and when I was in Italy came to see me, we talked and I had no doubt. The next day I called him and told him that he wanted to play with Spain.

P: Did the feeling influence or gave greater importance to the winning dynamics of the Spanish team?

R: No, I actually made the decision before Spain won the Eurocup because I feel Spanish.

P: Who was his idol?

R: Sergio Ramos, for me it has been the best central in history. I had everything. Ball exit, defensively was aggressive, a leader, put goals being important for the team. Also from the south, like me. I think we look a bit.

P: Is it the player in which he is most fixed to be central or does he have more referents?

R: There are very good plants in the world as they are going to say, which seems to me the best at this time. In the past I liked Ramos and Piqué.

Lamine opened a way to show that age does not matter and now we have to take advantage of

Dean Huijsen

P: What is your first memory of the Spanish team?

R: The World Cup that won Spain. I don’t remember much because I was 5 years old, but I remember it. It was a very good generation.

P: It comes very young to the absolute, with 19 years, but of course, seeing Lamine Yamal that still has 17, nothing is soon for a player …

R: There are younger ones, Lamine but also Pau Cubarsí. For me it is a pride to be at absolute. Lamine opened a way to show that age does not matter and now we have to take advantage.

P: Even before Yamal, with 15 years, Huijsen was already trained with the first team of Malaga …

R: Yes, before I trained with them several times. The first day I fell a little because Pellicer took me after giving a heel pass, but then everything went very well. I am from Malaga to death, I always say it, but things arose and I think I chose the best for me. I always went to the matches in La Rosaleda. I hope to return one day. It cost me enough to make the decision, it was difficult but I think it was the best for everyone.

The reason I went to Italy was to improve defensively, I wanted to be more complete

Dean Huijsen

P: Since then it has gone through great clubs without settling, why and what have you learned from each country?

R: I went to Juve with 16 years and went through the quarry until I reached the first team. Last season I arrived on loan to Rome, I played there half a year until they bought me in England. The reason I went to Italy was to improve defensively, I wanted to be more complete. It is Spain I stayed with the ball and in England with the intensity with which it is played. The high pace and one against one has made me learn a lot

P: What coach marked you the most?

R: I have had good coaches, Iraola is marking me a lot. Before I was with Mourinho, from Rossi, Allegri … I can only be grateful to them because they have given me opportunities. I have taken something from everyone, I have learned.

P: Mourinho came to call him to convince him to go to Rome …

R: It called me and it was an experience. From him I keep the competitiveness that he teaches you, I defensively learned a lot although I was a short time with him. I would have liked to be more. With Rossi I was also very good and it was like a second father for me. In Italy the defensive is key, it also helped me out of the countryside, I cared about how it was and things like that.

P: With Iraola he has found continuity to make the leap

R: We play a very offensive game, with high pressure and many times exposed to the one. That makes you always with high intensity and I am learning a lot. I am doing it well and I am happy.

P: When making the decision to leave Malaga, on the table he had an offer from Real Madrid. Why didn’t he want to grow in his quarry?

R: I think it was a measured decision, I wanted for the fame of Italy to go to Juve where Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli and these historical plants were. I wanted to learn the defensive, which is also learned in Spain, but there you work more. I think it was a right decision.

It is a pride that such a big team for you (Real Madrid) is interested, is something special and means that you are doing well

Dean Huijsen

P: Didn’t you see the same progression option at Real Madrid?

R: It is never known how it would have gone, it was a very good option but at that time I thought that the best thing for me was to learn the defensive aspect a bit and I think I have learned it.

P: In the present, in another scenario, already for the first team, Real Madrid closely follows its growth. How do you interpret it?

R: It is a pride that such a big team is interested in you, is something special and means that you are doing well.

I have a family in Holland, also in Spain. It is my only link

Dean Huijsen

P: The football destiny makes it fair to debut with Spain in the absolute precisely before the country from which it leaves, the Netherlands …

R: I want to play, for me it is a pride, whether it can hope I can play. I don’t know how they will receive me, although or wrong, but I have done what I felt.

P: Do you keep any link with the country?

R: I have a family in Holland, also in Spain. It is my only link. When I stop in England I am going to live in Malaga and in summer Marbella. I’ve been there for many years.

P: Does the moment of your debut with Spain already visualize?

R: I wish it occurs, but if it does not happen, to continue working. Already the call marks the best moment of my career and debuting would be even better. Let’s see what happens. In Spain they are the best players and it is a pride to be with them. In the Eurocup when I saw her I was freaking out to see how they played, I hope to contribute something.

P: Is the Netherlands a more dangerous selection than many people think?

R: Yes, it has a very good team, but we are strong and we have enough chances of winning.