Real Madrid are almost certainly going to welcome Jose Mourinho as their next manager, and whlie the Spanish press may be jumping the gun a little bit, given the Portuguese international's remarks at his latest press conference to close the 2025/26 league season for Benfica, that doesn't at all change the overall expectation that the Special One will return to command Real for a second time after a nadir of back to back trophyless seasons.
Los Blancos have lost their winning identity since the signing of Kylian Mbappe, with insecuritie and selfishness gripping ahold of the locker room. Mbappe recently showed his true colors by going scorched earth on former Mourinho disciple Alvaro Arbeloa and the entire team, and Florentino Perez is hoping Mourinho can be the one to get this project on track without them having to sell any of the crucial superstars.
But as usual, the narrative around the biggest names at Real Madrid has shrouded discussions about the rest of the squad, and as any true Madridista knows, the measure of Real Madrid's successes and failures are more built on the strength of the squad and the sum of the parts of the defense and role players - not just the superstar attackers.
Jose Mourinho is the master of the defense
To that end, young Dean Huijsen is an interesting player to watch. He is the only center back Real Madrid have brought in over the past few years despite Carlo Ancelotti's cries for help, especially with Eder Militao almost perennially injured, and while he has struggled a bit as the season has gone on, there is promise in the young Spanish international.
And it was Mourinho who was one of the first to notice his talent back when he coached Huijsen at Roma. Huijsen, before breaking out at Bournemouth, was one of the top prospects in a burgeoning Roma academy, tabbed as the next great center back in European football.
Mourinho said of Huijsen as recently as 2024, via the Madrid Zone, “Dean has 10 minutes of football in the Serie A, but he's one of the biggest prospects in football. He will be a very great player in the future”.
That is high, high praise indeed, and although Jose Mourinho once showed his attacking acumen at Real Madrid by breaking the single season La Liga goals record behind counterattacking principles (and the unique gifts of compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo), we all know Mou is the biggest modern legend of the defense. He has turned Chelsea's, FC Porto's, Real Madrid's, and Roma's center backs into bigger titans, and he can do the same with a more mature Huijsen who is now starting games at the highest level. His development under Mourinho is one of the biggest hidden storylines to watch.
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