Huijsen debuts for Spain, proud of Real Madrid ties

Dean Huijsen expressed his pride in being linked to Real Madrid after making his debut for Spain in a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands. The 19-year-old Bournemouth defender, born in Amsterdam, replaced an injured teammate during the match. Huijsen has attracted attention from Real Madrid as they seek to strengthen their defense this summer. He emphasized that he is focused on finishing the current season strongly and not thinking too much about any potential transfer. "It makes you proud that such a big team is interested in you," he said. Madrid has faced challenges with injuries this season, impacting players like Éder Militão and David Alaba. This situation has led them to rely on younger players from their academy. Huijsen has played 23 matches for Bournemouth since joining from Juventus last summer. During his debut, Huijsen faced a tough reception from the crowd in Rotterdam, as he previously played for the Netherlands at the youth level. He acknowledged the hostile atmosphere, stating, "The crowd is the crowd. I focus on playing." Huijsen was originally called up to Spain's under-21 team before stepping up to the senior squad. He described playing for Spain as a dream, especially with family present at the match. "It was just meant to be," he added.