Stats prove Real Madrid summer signing deserves more credit than given

Real Madrid’s summer signing Dean Huijsen took little time to impress both fans and pundits with his confident displays at the heart of defence.

The young Spaniard, who arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu with big expectations, quickly established himself as one of the most exciting defensive prospects in Europe.

However, as the season has progressed, Huijsen’s performances have fluctuated , with recent mistakes against Liverpool and Rayo Vallecano drawing unwanted attention.

Despite those moments, though, AS reports that there is no concern within Real Madrid regarding Huijsen’s form.

In fact, both Xabi Alonso and the coaching staff maintain total trust in the 20-year-old defender, believing he remains an essential part of Madrid’s long-term plans.

While Huijsen’s yellow-card incidents against Liverpool and Rayo Vallecano did not help his case, his overall numbers tell a very different story.

Statistically, the Spaniard’s defensive output has been highly consistent.

Dean Huijsen’s stats have been excellent. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

He has won 33 aerial duels , just one fewer than Eder Militao’s 34, and has registered 31 clearances compared to the Brazilian’s 33.

Huijsen’s slight errors often stem from his tactical role, as he is the centre-back asked to take risks further up the pitch and help Madrid regain possession quickly.

This approach explains why he has recovered the ball 43 times compared to Militao’s 26.

His anticipation is also superior, recording 61 interceptions against his teammate’s 54. In ball recoveries, he leads once again, 62 to 55 , showing his proactive defensive nature.

Huijsen’s influence extends well beyond defence, as his ball-playing ability makes him a key part of Madrid’s attacking transitions.

He consistently threads passes into the opposition’s final third and delivers the most successful forward passes among the team’s defenders, almost functioning as an auxiliary midfielder when building from the back.

As a result, both the club and the manager remain firmly behind him and despite this dip in form, the confidence is absolute.