Real Madrid is planning the team for next season. In this search, especially in defensive positions, Florentino has decided to cross out the name of a player who could have arrived completely free. We're talking about Van Dijk, Liverpool's center-back, whose contract ends next June 30 and was among the possible arrivals at Santiago Bernabéu.
Marca has revealed that Madrid doesn't consider Van Dijk as a possible reinforcement for next season, especially considering he's about to renew with Liverpool. The Dutchman's plan is to sign a new contract until 2028, with salary figures that Florentino Pérez wasn't willing to match—nor even come close to—being completely out of the market.
Van Dijk's figure is "respected and admired" at Real Madrid, but he's not in the plans. Although he's a great defender, they're looking for a different profile. What Florentino wants is a center-back capable of staying for many years at Bernabéu, or in other words, younger. The strategy is clear and doesn't fit with the possible arrival of the defender, who will continue his career at Liverpool.
At Liverpool, there's only one player that interests Real Madrid and it's not Van Dijk. We're talking about Alexander-Arnold, whose contract also ends next June 30 and his arrival is quite advanced.
Florentino Has Other Plans for Real Madrid: "No" to Van Dijk
With Van Dijk's arrival ruled out at Real Madrid, the president has set his sights on another center-back. He's the new sensation of the Premier League. He's only 19 years old and is garnering praise, becoming one of the great revelations of the season.
He plays for modest Bournemouth under Andoni Iraola, fifth in the table, above Manchester City and with Champions League aspirations. Along the way, they've already defeated Manchester City, Manchester United, and Arsenal.
We're talking about Dean Huijsen, a player with a strange last name and a Spanish passport. He's only 19 years old, 6' 5" tall and the trending center-back in the Premier League. Born in Amsterdam, his family moved to Marbella when he was 5 years old; in Málaga, he trained as a professional. Not in vain, his father had already played in the Eredivisie.
In 2021, he went to Juventus, which loaned him to Roma. Then, to Bournemouth, which paid 15 million for him. He's an ambidextrous center-back, with ball control, speed, strength, and exceptional aerial play. Florentino likes him and is studying his transfer for Real Madrid: He's ahead of Van Dijk.