A day after beating Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final, Real Madrid trained behind closed doors at the King Abdullah Sports City complex in Jeddah.
Among the injured and fitness doubts, the figure of Dean Huijsen stood out. The 20-year-old defender, one of the team’s headline signings in last summer’s transfer window, has yet to make his debut in 2026.
After all, he missed the first game of the new year against Real Betis and also did not feature against Diego Simeone’s side, remaining on the bench as he watched his teammates.
As such, there is an air of mystery surrounding his condition even as he waits for clearance to get back onto the field, reports AS.
Injury-riddled months for Huijsen
Huijsen, who quickly caught the eye for his composure in possession and his ability to break lines with his passing, has featured in just three of Real Madrid’s last ten matches.
Back in October, he was diagnosed with a muscle injury to the soleus in his left leg, which prevented him from travelling with the Spanish national team.
He did join the following call-up in November, but still returned without playing a single minute for Spain due to persisting discomfort. This came after he was substituted at half-time in Madrid’s 0-0 draw away at Rayo Vallecano.
Dean Huijsen of Real Madrid
Huijsen struggling with constant niggles. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Upon his return to club action, he did make it back onto the pitch against Elche, where he played a key role in salvaging a point, scoring Real Madrid’s first goal, but he finished the match with muscle discomfort.
Those issues lingered through the final stretch of 2025 and have continued into the start of the new year, although Real Madrid have not issued an official medical statement or update on the defender since his absence in October.
Since the Elche clash, Huijsen has missed four La Liga matches against Girona, Athletic Club, Celta Vigo and Real Betis, two Champions League fixtures against Olympiacos and Manchester City, and the Super Cup semi-final.
In between came a brief spell of relief in mid-December, when he managed 12 minutes against Alaves, played the full game vs Talavera in the Copa del Rey as well as the final game of 2025 against Sevilla.
Just when it seemed he would be ready to face Betis, a muscle overload ruled him out again – a worrying sign.
Now he is training with the rest of the squad in Jeddah, waiting not only for medical clearance but also for competitive readiness but question marks remain ahead of the Super Cup final.