Mourinho was right about Huijsen, Juventus wrong | OneFootball

Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of ex-Juventus defender Dean Huijsen, leaving the Bianconeri with big regrets and proving José Mourinho right about the emerging Spanish defender.

One year ago, Huijsen was on the verge of finishing a six-month loan spell at Roma after picking the Giallorossi over Frosinone.

The Ciociari, who were fighting for survival in Serie A, had reached an agreement with Huijsen’s parent club Juventus over a six-month loan deal, but a call from Mourinho changed the player’s stance.

The Special One had never hidden his admiration for Huijsen, and the first step he made to convince the Spanish defender to join Roma on loan was hugging him on the sidelines after an away game at Juventus, just before the start of the January 2024 transfer window.

Earlier this season, the 20-year-old admitted that the Special One’s call surprised him but was also crucial in picking Roma for a six-month loan spell last term.

Huijsen further upset the Frosinone in February 2024, less than a month after signing for Roma, as he scored against them in a Serie A match and hit back at their angry fans with his goal celebration.

When Mourinho convinced Huijsen to join Roma

Roma coach Jose Mourinho reacts from the technical area during the Italian Serie A football match between Juventus and Roma at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, on December 30, 2023. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP) (Photo by ISABELLA BONOTTO/AFP via Getty Images)

By that time, Daniele De Rossi had already taken charge of Roma, as Mourinho had been sacked in mid-January after a defeat against Milan.

Mourinho’s departure, however, did not cancel the fact that he had spotted Huijsen’s talent. When the defender returned to Juventus last summer, many thought the Bianconeri would keep hold of the promising centre-back, especially because they claimed they’d start a new project based on young players.

Juventus did sign many young footballers last season, but many academy products were sold to generate revenues and partially solve their financial issues.

While the likes of Enzo Barrenechea or Samuel Iling Junior failed to emerge far from Turin as Aston Villa quickly sent them out on loan, Huijsen and Moise Kean flourished at Bournemouth and Fiorentina.

However, while the Italian striker had flopped in Turin in 2023-24, failing to score in 12 appearances and with a contract expiring in 2025, Huijsen had a long-term deal in Turin and wanted to stay at Juventus.

The club, however, had already decided to cash in on the Spaniard, also because they were upset by his decision to join Roma instead of Frosinone a few months earlier. Club directors were not entirely on good terms with the defender’s entourage, so Huijsen ultimately joined Bournemouth.

Football Italia already predicted Juventus would regret selling the 20-year-old last summer and the early sign came in January, when the Old Lady were forced to solve a selection crisis in defence by signing Renato Veiga on loan from Chelsea and Lloyd Kelly from Newcastle United, spending the same fee they had earned for Huijsen’s sale.

“Juventus might be scratching their heads at that now [how the English club got him for so cheap],”  Bournemouth technical director Simon Francis told BBC Radio Solent in April.

“We found a fortunate time to take him out of there. [Bournemouth president of football operations] Tiago Pinto had worked closely with him before [at Roma] and gave us reassurance.

“The idea was for him to come in as back-up and learn but through injury there was the opportunity for him to come into the team and he’s been there ever since.”