Luis de la Fuente, Head Coach of Spain
Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images
The first international break of the season is almost here, with Luis de la Fuente expected to announce his final team on Friday.
Real Madrid will be keeping a closer look at the team sheet, which will be announced just before their high-octane encounter against Atletico Madrid this weekend.
While Marc Cucurella is almost destined to be selected, there are doubts over the participation of other Spanish stars in the team, including Dean Huijsen.
Huijsen unlikely to make it
According to SER, as reported by Defensa Central, Huijsen is unlikely to make the cut for de la Fuente as he looks to announced his final Spain squad this week.
Dean Huijsen, Real Madrid player
Huijsen has performed well so far this season. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
This is despite the fact that the young centre-back has produced improved performances this season, showcasing a lot of maturity and intent.
Huijsen appears to be at home under Jose Mourinho, a manager he has worked with in the past.
Yet, that may not be enough to a spot in de la Fuente’s Spain team. It must be noted that Huijsen was also snubbed for Spain’s World Cup team, much to the surprise of everyone in the Real Madrid squad.
A blessing in disguise?
Huijsen potentially missing out on the international action with Spain during this break could serve as a blessing in disguise for Real Madrid.
Dean Huijsen, Real Madrid player
Can Huijsen return to the Spanish national team fold? (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
As mentioned earlier, Huijsen has stepped up his performances this season and any potential injury during the international break could be catastrophic for the club.
This is valid even more so considering the fact that Real Madrid do not have any other ball-playing left-sided centre-back in the team right now.
That is perhaps why Real Madrid are once again eyeing a move for Nico Schlotterbeck, who has recently returned from injury and could be available for pocket change next summer.
As for Huijsen, he will be keeping his fingers crossed. But in case of yet another omission, he is expected to work with Mourinho at the Valdebebas during the break.
La Liga chief not impressed by three Real Madrid players after not wearing Ceuta support shirt
Javier Tebas, La Liga president
Photo by Miguel Tovar/Getty Images
Real Madrid returned to action on Tuesday with a La Liga clash against Elche at the Martinez Valero.
Jose Mourinho’s game secured a hard-fought 3-2 win. But the victory was overshadowed by an off-pitch controversy involving three Real Madrid stars.
Tebas critical of Real Madrid trio
Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe and Ibrahima Konate walked out for the match with their shirts folded, meaning a message of support for the people of Ceuta, amid the ongoing migration crisis in the Spanish enclave, was not visible.
This left La Liga president Javier Tebas fuming, as he pointed out that such matters has to be followed and does not depend on personal beliefs.
Javier Tebas, La Liga president
Tebas is unhappy with Real Madrid trio Konate, Mbappe and Vinicius. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images for Soccerex)
Speaking at a conference organised in Huesca, Tebas made no secret of his disapproval. “I think it is very bad,” the LaLiga chief said (h/t Mundo Deportivo).
Tebas argued that such gestures represent an institutional initiative rather than a matter of personal choice.
“Real Madrid is a Spanish entity and the participation of the entire staff in this type of initiative responds to an institutional act, a club act, and not a personal act where an opinion must be given,” he said.
He added that campaigns promoted by clubs and authorised by La Liga should not be subject to the players’ opinions when they do not touch on ideological matters.
Tebas on the Ceuta controversy
A fan carrying a support Ceuta banner.
Ceuta became the hotbed of a migration crisis earlier in the year. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Tebas doubled down on his stance that wearing the shirt was non-negotiable as part of a collective gesture.
“Going out with the whole squad with the shirt is a club act. The player has to go out with the shirt. Because going out with the shirt folded is like going out without it,” he added.
The La Liga president also addressed the situation surrounding Real Betis’ Moroccan player Ez Abde, who did wear the support shirt during the Villarreal-Betis fixture and subsequently received threats and abuse as a result.
Tebas described that fallout as collateral damage.