Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen, a self-confessed fan of Málaga CF, will face his lifelong club for the first time this Sunday at 5:00 PM. The match is an emotional moment for the young Spanish international, who was developed at La Rosaleda, as reported by Mundo Deportivo on Friday.
Who is Dean Huijsen?
Dean Huijsen is a 21-year-old Spanish centre-back born in the Netherlands but raised in Marbella from the age of five. He is a pure product of the Málaga CF youth academy, where he played from ages 10 to 16. In the blanquiazul youth ranks, he did not go unnoticed: he was a captain and a standout figure, and a regular for the Andalusia regional team alongside his current Real Madrid teammate, Brahim Díaz. His subsequent growth has been meteoric. After leaving the club for 200,000 euros in 2021 bound for Juventus, he has worn the shirts of José Mourinho's Roma, Bournemouth, and finally Real Madrid, where he is already a starter.
What connection does he maintain with Málaga?
Huijsen has never hidden his passion for Málaga CF. Last season, while the team was competing in Primera Federación, he attended La Rosaleda on at least three occasions. He witnessed the 3-0 win against Deportivo in October, the 2-3 defeat to Castellón in April, and the 1-1 draw with Racing in May. After victories, it was not uncommon to see him go down to the dressing room to celebrate with the squad and pose in victory photos. During one visit he even wore the first-team shirt, a gesture that made his emotional bond clear. This support coincided with the club's recent promotion campaigns to the Second Division and later to the First Division, an objective it has been pursuing for the last five years.
Why didn't he debut with the first team?
Despite his precocious talent, Huijsen never made his first-team debut for Málaga CF. The then-coach Sergio Pellicer was the one who could have given him that opportunity, but the player ultimately began his journey away from the club before it materialised. His departure, though painful for the fans who saw him grow, allowed him to develop a high-level career in just a few years. Today he is an option for the Spanish senior national team defence and a key player in Real Madrid's project. Málaga CF, now managed by Juanfran Funes, is preparing for a demanding schedule that includes a next home fixture against Athletic Club on November 29th, as can be seen on our fixtures page.
What does this fixture mean?
Sunday's match is more than just a league game for Huijsen. It represents the clash between his elite present at Real Madrid and his footballing and emotional roots at Málaga CF. For the club, facing one of their own who is succeeding elsewhere is a reminder of the quality their academy can produce. The defender, tall and with an Andalusian accent, will face the institution that formed him for the first time. This clash comes at an important point in the season, where every point counts in the fight for objectives. Fans can follow the team's progress and that of former academy players like Huijsen through our squad and standings pages. On Sunday, for one afternoon, the fan will become the rival.
