Real Madrid Confidencial After the friendly against Tirol, Xabi Alonso will replace Huijsen, goodbye to the center back
The coach highly values the clean ball distribution from the back by the Spanish international and will give him the role of '5'
Real Madrid is experiencing a quiet change in the way it starts the game. Without Toni Kroos and without a pure "five" in the squad, Xabi Alonso has looked for solutions and has found it in an unexpected place: the center of defense.
Dean Huijsen, 20 years old, was key in the friendly against WSG Tirol. He not only fulfilled his defensive duties. He became the engine of the ball's distribution from the back.
The owner of the statistics
Huijsen played 77 minutes and was the footballer with the most contact with the ball: 120 touches. Far above Militao, who had 84.
He completed 111 passes, with 104 successful, that is, a 93.7% success rate. He also led in long passes: 16 attempts, with 13 successful. He made 20 passes in the final third, with an 80% success rate.
These figures show that he doesn't just play the ball out from the back, but breaks lines and looks for teammates like Arda Güler or Mbappé.
A different profile
This isn't the first time Huijsen has shined in this role. In the last Club World Cup, he was already the Madrid player with the most successful passes and deliveries ending in attacking areas.
Since he arrived, he made it clear that his style fit what Xabi Alonso demands. He proves it in every match with maturity and confidence.
In a team used to more positional center-backs, like Rüdiger or Militao, the Dutchman brings something different: solidity at the back and ambition to create from the start of the play.
The bridge without a "five"
In the absence of an organizing midfielder, Huijsen acts as a link between defense and midfield. He absorbs pressure, distributes wisely, and speeds up play when he sees the opportunity.
His role is similar to that of the modern libero: he defends, but also directs. That gives him special value in a Madrid that seeks to keep offensive fluidity without losing its identity.
If he keeps this level, Huijsen can establish himself as an undisputed starter. Xabi Alonso already knows that, as long as there isn't a "five" in the squad, its ball distribution starts at the feet of the young center-back.
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