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ANDONI Iraola ‘has no doubts’ that Dean Huijsen will make the step to Real Madrid and will thrive in Spain.
The young centre back was signed by the Spanish giants after they triggered his £50million release clause, and he will join the club at the end of the Premier League season.
Iraola was full of praise for Huijsen – with the 20-year-old set to feature against Manchester City and Leicester in Bournemouth’s final two games of the season.
Speaking on the transfer, Iraola said: “I think for someone that is just 20, I think he has managed these situations quite well.
(Image: Richard Crease)
“I haven't noticed anything in training. He's the first one that wants to finish well this season.
“He's pushing and he's ready to play these two games.
“Obviously, from my side, you never want to lose this kind of player because he has been very good for us.
“But there is a part also that you feel happy for him because he goes to Real Madrid, I think it’s what he really wanted to do.
“And obviously we hope everything goes well for him after these two games. And I think it has been quite natural. He hasn't lost any training sessions.
“Everyone also has, I think, acted quite natural. And obviously for the club there was a chance that this could happen. And also it gives the club time now in the market also to prepare for next season.
“And that's overall the feeling we have.”
(Image: Richard Crease)
There was never any doubt that Huijsen would remain committed to the Cherries for the remainder of their campaign, Iraola said, saying he’s pushing to start at City and wants to see the Cherries finish as high as possible.
And Iraola is confident he will excel in the Spanish capital.
“I have no doubt that he's ready for this jump,” he said.
“Real Madrid is probably the biggest club in the world, or one of the biggest, but I think he has the level.
“He has the level and not only in the football side, also the maturity, the confidence in himself to go there and perform.
“Obviously he knows he will have big competitions to play but I trust him a lot and I think he's going to be very good for Real Madrid.”
(Image: Richard Crease)
Iraola admitted feeling some pride in seeing Huijsen move to Madrid, but said he arrived in Bournemouth a very good player.
“It's not like we received a player that was not very good and then after one season, he has been amazing and we've improved him massively,” Iraola said.
“No, when he came here day one, he was very good already.
“It's true that we've helped him in the process of discovering the Premier League and professional football because he did have very few minutes at a high level and it has been and pleasure for us to help him in this process and we are sure that he's going to continue this development. He's going to become even better.”
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