'I hope he doesn't do much!' - Dean Huijsen praying Lamine Yamal flops in Clasico clashes as Real Madrid defender hails 'great' Barcelona star

Huijsen has been one of the breakout stars of Madrid’s new season, stepping straight into Xabi Alonso’s defence after his €60 million (£50m/$66m) move from Bournemouth. The 20-year-old centre-back has slotted in with composure, helping Los Blancos claim maximum points from their opening three La Liga matches while also featuring at the Club World Cup. 

During international duty, the ex-Juventus player was asked about Barca wonderkid Yamal, with whom he now shares a Spain dressing room. While full of admiration, he could not resist a Clasico-themed joke about his new team-mate. Huijsen has already shown composure beyond his years, quickly becoming a reliable figure in Alonso’s defence. Meanwhile, Yamal’s rise at Barcelona represents a parallel story on the other side of Spain’s great divide. With both players already key for La Roja, the Clasico rivalry is set to add another fascinating subplot as two of the country’s brightest prospects will clash in the most high-profile matches of the season.

The youngster spoke warmly of his Spain team-mate but could not hide his Madrid loyalties, telling Marca: “A great player. I hope he does very well here and that when we play each other in the League, he doesn’t do much.”

Huijsen now turns his focus to Spain’s World Cup qualifying campaign, with fixtures against Bulgaria and Turkey on the horizon. Meanwhile, Madrid will be counting on the young defender to maintain their perfect start in La Liga with the first Clasico of the season coming on October 26.