Madrid's Huijsen wants to be like Sergio Ramos

Real Madrid's caller signing Dean Huijsen has said helium wants "to beryllium similar Sergio Ramos," praising the erstwhile Madrid skipper arsenic his "idol" portion admitting that he's already spoken to manager Xabi Alonso astir his relation successful the team.

Madrid confirmed the accomplishment of centre-back Huijsen, 20, past period connected a five-year contract, and the defender is present connected planetary work up of Spain's UEFA Nations League semifinal with France connected Thursday.

Speaking to the newspaper Diario AS aft grooming with Spain connected Monday, Huijsen cited Madrid fable Ramos -- who won a big of trophies with the nine implicit 16 years, arsenic good arsenic 3 large tournaments with his state -- arsenic an inspiration.

"I effort to aspire to beryllium similar Sergio Ramos. He's my idol," Huijsen said. "For me, he's precise complete, helium had everything. In presumption of leadership, goalscoring, personality, character."

Huijsen -- who was calved successful Amsterdam but grew up successful Málaga -- has enjoyed a meteoric emergence implicit the past 12 months, starring for Bournemouth successful the Premier League and making his Spain debut successful March, earlier signing for Madrid.

He played for Málaga astatine younker level earlier signing for Juventus, going connected indebtedness to Roma, and joining Bournemouth successful July 2024.

"My program was to walk 2 years astatine Bournemouth, and grow, and past fig retired what to bash next," helium said. "But things person moved precise quickly, faster than I expected."

Madrid are successful the midst of a large reshaping of their defence aft a disappointing season, with Huijsen already joined by right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, and the nine besides moving connected a woody for left-back Álvaro Carreras.

Huijsen said he's already spoken to caller manager Xabi Alonso -- who has taken implicit from Carlo Ancelotti aft Madrid ended the run without a large trophy -- astir his plans, with the nine acceptable to instrumentality portion successful the Club World Cup this month.

"We've talked a spot astir the squad and what helium has successful mind, and astir the project," Huijsen said. "Of course, we privation to triumph things again, and I'm definite we will... I don't deliberation it's sunk successful yet. But I'm present astatine Madrid, and I'll effort to bash my best."

At Madrid, Huijsen joins a dressing country afloat of stars, which nevertheless failed to gel this season.

Ancelotti departed -- to instrumentality complaint of Brazil -- aft the nine finished 2nd successful LaLiga, mislaid the Copa del Rey last and were eliminated successful the Champions League quarterfinals, suffering a grounds 4 consecutive Clásico defeats to Barcelona.

"I privation to play with the best," Huijsen said. "[Kylian] Mbappé, Vinícius [Júnior], Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham, each those successful onslaught -- they're immoderate of the champion determination is."

Madrid volition footwear disconnected their Club World Cup run against Al Hilal successful Miami, Florida connected June 18, earlier playing Pachuca connected June 22, and Salzburg connected June 26.