Dean Huijsen is officially back in Real Madrid’s squad, just in time for their Champions League clash against José Mourinho’s former club, Roma. The defender’s return for Wednesday’s 9 p.m. Madrid time kickoff at the Stadio Olimpico is a huge boost, especially after he sat out Saturday’s win over Villarreal due to suspension.
Huijsen’s Return Shakes Up Madrid’s Defensive Lineup
Huijsen’s availability means manager Mourinho now has another solid option to pair with Antonio Rüdiger and Ibrahima Konaté in central defense. You gotta wonder how that decision is gonna play out! Madrid wrapped up their final training session at Valdebebas, skipping the match venue prep again, which is a classic Mourinho move to keep things tight. While it’s great to see Éder Militão and Ferland Mendy working with their teammates, they’re not in the traveling squad, which is a bummer. Militão is definitely out for both Roma and Sevilla matches, and Mendy isn’t even registered for the Champions League squad, so that’s a no-go. With Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo still rehabbing, Mourinho’s choice for that starting central-defensive partnership is gonna be critical, picking from Huijsen, Rüdiger, and Konaté. Oh, and Vinícius Júnior, despite his league dismissal last Saturday, is definitely in the European squad, so that’s one less headache.
Bayern Throws Down the Gauntlet: Olise Isn’t Going Anywhere
Meanwhile, the transfer rumor mill keeps churning, and Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer just dropped a bombshell about Michael Olise. He shot down all the talk linking Olise to Real Madrid, and he didn’t mince words. Hainer made it crystal clear to Bild TV that Bayern isn’t under any pressure to sell. “Bayern is a club that doesn’t need to sell. We make our decisions from a position of strength. Michael Olise still has a contract with us until 2029,” Hainer stated. He’s even hoping Olise extends that deal. Hainer then threw a direct jab at Madrid, saying, “Regardless of whether it’s Real Madrid or any other club that tries to sign him, we know how to defend ourselves well.” He’s proud of Olise’s growth, too, noting, “When he arrived at our club, only those in the know recognized him. Now the whole football world knows him.” And for good reason, the guy’s on fire, with eight goals and four assists in just eight appearances across all competitions this season! Bayern’s message to anyone eyeing Olise is loud and clear: back off. Oh, and a little side note, the club’s crest officially got installed on the Bernabéu’s façade today, a nice touch as they prepare for a massive week.
So, Real Madrid’s got a huge Champions League test against Roma coming up fast on Wednesday, and the defensive lineup is the biggest question mark. Will Huijsen make an immediate impact? And off the pitch, the battle for Michael Olise is clearly heating up, with Bayern drawing a hard line. Looks like there’s no shortage of drama for Madrid fans to chew on this week!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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