Dean Huijsen’s return to Spain’s roster is a reminder that international selection can move quickly when club form changes. After being left out of Spain’s World Cup squad, the Real Madrid centre back is back in Luis de la Fuente’s plans.
That makes this call notable for two reasons. First, Spain won their second World Cup title in July, so the new fall roster arrives with fresh expectations attached. Second, Huijsen’s club trajectory has changed sharply since the summer of 2025, when he signed for Real Madrid for £50 million.
Why Huijsen is back in the picture
De la Fuente made clear that the decision was based on what he has seen at Real Madrid. “We see he’s doing really good, that’s why we bet on him,” the Spain coach said.
That is the key point in Huijsen’s recall. His name was absent from Spain’s World Cup roster after a 2025-26 season in which his performances were inconsistent and mistake-ridden, and he lost his starting role toward the end of the campaign under Álvaro Arbeloa. A little over a month later, that was enough for him to be pushed out of the national team picture.
Now the story looks different. In 2026-27, Huijsen has played every minute in all but one of Real Madrid’s seven games under Jose Mourinho, and that level of trust has brought him straight back into the squad.
What De la Fuente is asking for
The message from the Spain coach is not just about selection, but about standards. “Dean has to understand, as do others, that he has to work like he’s working now which is very good, alway thinking about getting better every day. That would be great for him, for us and for his club,” De la Fuente said.
That is a straightforward international football equation. If Huijsen is reliable enough for Real Madrid, he becomes hard to ignore for Spain. And if he keeps performing at the level that has restored his club status, the debate over his omission will quickly fade.
For Huijsen, the immediate task is simple: turn a restored place in the squad into a secure role in it. For Spain, the bigger picture is just as clear. De la Fuente has brought back one of the four fresh faces, and the decision suggests he is willing to reward form when it is strong enough to demand attention.
