AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — After leaving Juventus last summer, young defender Dean Huijsen has emerged as one of Europe’s top central defenders. The 2005-born player is playing a pivotal role in Bournemouth‘s impressive season in the Premier League, garnering attention from major European clubs. In a recent interview with the official channels of the champion European national team, Huijsen discussed his decision to play for Spain.
“I always say that Spain is my home. Whenever I return home, that’s where I go. I feel Spanish,” he said. “When the opportunity came up, I seized it because that’s what I feel. I’ve lived my whole life in Spain, and I’ve done everything related to football here; my childhood friends are Spanish.”
Huijsen explained that he initially lacked a Spanish passport, but upon obtaining it, he made the choice to represent Spain without any doubts. “My first memory of the national team is the World Cup win in 2010. I don’t remember much because I was 5 years old, but I recall something. It was an era of really good players,” he stated.
During the interview, Huijsen also articulated his admiration for Sergio Ramos, saying, “For me, Sergio Ramos was the best central defender in history. He had everything—he was a ball carrier, aggressive in defense, a leader, and could score goals. It made him an important player for the team.”
He noted his respect for current players like Virgil van Dijk, whom he considers the best defender right now, and also expressed admiration for Gerard Piqué.
As he looks towards Spain’s future talents, he highlighted younger players like Lamine Yamal. “There are players even younger than me, like him and Cubarsí. It’s an honor to be here and Lamine has shown that age doesn’t matter. We need to take advantage of that,” he said.
When asked about the potential of debuting against Holland, he replied, “I can’t wait to play, whoever the opponent is. I don’t know how I’ll be received, whether well or poorly, but I did what I felt was right,” he said. “I have relatives in Holland and in Spain—those are my only connections. When I’m in England, I always go to Málaga and in the summer to Marbella. I haven’t gone to Holland in many years. I hope to debut soon, but if it doesn’t happen, I will continue to work. Just being convocated is already the best moment of my career, debuting would be even better. Let’s see what happens. The best players are in Spain, and it’s a pride to be with them. During the Euros, when I saw them, I was amazed by how they played. I hope to contribute. Holland has a very strong team, but so do we, and we have good chances of winning,” he reiterated.
Huijsen reflected on his difficult decision to leave Málaga as a young player, which led him to Juventus. “Before leaving, I trained several times with Málaga’s first team. I’m still a huge fan, I always say that, but things went this way, and I believe I made the best choice for myself at that moment. I used to go to games at La Rosaleda, and I hope to return one day. That decision was very hard for me,” he stated.
“I joined Juventus at 16, followed the youth system until I reached the first team. Last season, I was loaned to Roma, where I played for six months, before being signed by Bournemouth. I moved to Italy to improve my defensive game; I wanted to be more complete. In Spain, I learned about ball movement, while in England, I learned about the intensity of play. The high pace and one-on-one situations taught me a lot,” he added.
Discussing his choice to join Juventus over Real Madrid, he asserted, “I think it was a well-considered decision. I wanted to go to Juve because of the reputation of Italian football, where there were legends like Chiellini, Bonucci, and Barzagli. I wanted to learn their defensive techniques, which are also taught in Spain, but there’s much more focus on it there. I think it was the right decision.”
On the continued interest from Real Madrid, he commented, “It’s an honor for such a big club to be interested in you; it’s special and means you’re doing well.”
Huijsen expressed gratitude for his coaches, stating, “I’ve had great coaches. Iraola has influenced me a lot. Before him, I was with Mourinho, De Rossi, Allegri… I can only be thankful to them for giving me opportunities. I’ve learned something from all of them.”
His time with Mourinho at Roma left a striking impression. “I remember this competitiveness he instills in you. I learned a lot, even though I was with him for a short time,” he said. “I also had a great time with De Rossi; he was like a second father to me. In Italy, defense is crucial. He also helped me off the pitch, keeping an eye on me and stuff like that.”
Finally, reflecting on his current coach at Bournemouth, he concluded, “We play very offensive football, with a lot of pressure, and we are often exposed to one-on-one situations. That allows me to learn a lot; I’m doing well and I’m happy.”
