José Mourinho and the Spanish-Dutch center back Dean Huijsen meet again in Roma, but this time with very different roles and circumstances than in 2023. At that time, the Portuguese coach was looking for a young defender to reinforce the Serie A defense and signed Huijsen, who was then 18 years old and played between the first team and the Juventus reserve team. Huijsen's debut in the European elite came in the Italian capital, where he played 14 games (13 in Serie A and one in Coppa Italia) before being transferred to Bournemouth for the following summer.
The time at Roma under Mourinho marked the beginning of Huijsen's career in top-level football. Since then, the player has followed a path that includes a record €50 million move to Real Madrid, an initial season that fell short of expectations, and a recent phase of regaining confidence. Under Mourinho, who called him on Christmas Day to persuade him to join the club, Huijsen has once again established himself as a reliable and solid centre-back.
Huijsen's return to Roma comes in a context of significant changes for both the club and the player himself. Real Madrid, where he currently works, has seen Huijsen recover from a difficult season and return to the Spanish team, from which he had been absent after the World Cup. His performance at the club has been enough to endear him to the Madrid fans, although his last appearance for the white team ended in an expulsion that left a bad impression.
Wednesday's match offers Huijsen the opportunity to vindicate himself in front of the fans who saw him grow up in Serie A. The match will be double: he will face Roma, his former club, and the Spanish team, which he has returned to after a break in the squads. The rivalry between both teams, which dates back to their first collaboration in 2023, intensifies with the presence of Mourinho, who now coaches Real Madrid and has been a key element in Huijsen's career.
With the season underway, Huijsen's return to Roma under Mourinho promises an interesting chapter in his career. His performance in the upcoming match will be crucial to cementing his position in both the club and national team, and to show that he has learned the lessons from his first experience in the Italian capital. The result of this match will set the tone for his participation in the next matches and will define his role in the immediate future of Real Madrid and the Spanish team.