Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen has labelled it "an honour" to be linked with a move to a club of the stature of Real Madrid.
Huijsen is enjoying a breakout season at the Vitality Stadium, following a £15m move from Juventus over the summer, aiding the Cherries in their pursuit of European football.
Bournemouth have never played on the continent before, but thanks to a strong partnership with Illia Zabarnyi at the back, Huijsen has been instrumental in their ascent up the Premier League table this season.
Despite his slender frame, Huijsen has made the most clearances (126) and headed clearances (62) of any teenager across Europe's top-five leagues this season, but he has also been praised for his ability to be a ball-playing central defender.
That form has not gone unnoticed, because Huijsen was rewarded with his first Spain call-up this week, replacing the injured Inigo Martinez in La Roja's squad to face the Netherlands, the country of his birth.
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Huijsen speaks about Real Madrid links
Speaking to Relevo after joining up with the senior squad this week, Huijsen has been keen to talk up the prospect of joining Real Madrid in the future.
When asked about the links, Huijsen responded: "It's an honor when you hear about Real Madrid interest, I'm proud to have such a big club interested in me. It's special for sure"
Los Blancos made a move for the defender when he was in Malaga's academy, but turned it down as he felt it was too soon in his development to make such a jump.
However, he has now revealed that he would be open to making that leap, given the progress he has made in recent years.
"At the time I thought that the best thing for me was to learn a little bit of the defensive aspect, and I think I've learned it now." Huijsen claimed.
Huijsen also revealed in the interview that Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos is his idol, and the defender emulated the great Cristiano Ronaldo's celebration after netting his first goal for Roma during a loan spell last season.
Real are set to enter the market for at least one centre-back this summer, following the injury setback suffered by Eder Militao, as well as the departure last summer of Nacho Fernandez, who was not replaced.
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Is Huijsen set for a return to Spain after a half-decade away?
Despite being born in Amsterdam to Dutch parents, Huijsen moved to Spain as a young child, growing up in Marbella, before showing promising signs at Malaga as a teenager.
Huijsen chose to move to Juventus over Real Madrid in 2021 though, before eventually featuring for the Bianconeri's reserve team 18 months later as a 17-year-old.
After one Serie A appearance and a loan to Roma, Juve essentially discarded Huijsen, forcing him to train away from the squad while they sought defensive reinforcements elsewhere, namely Lloyd Kelly from Newcastle United.
The teenager has rapidly proven the Italian giants wrong at Bournemouth, where the £15m-man has excelled under Andoni Iraola, and he is in line for a full Spanish debut this week.
It would be a special moment for Huijsen to make his senior international bow against the country of his birth, and for whom he represented from under-16s through to under-19s, where there will hopefully be no hard feelings felt from a Dutch perspective.
Andrew Delaney
