Real Madrid News
Borussia Dortmund set to return with improved bid for 18-year-old Real Madrid starlet
Real Madrid have taken as many as nine youth team prospects to the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA.
This group includes experienced names like Chema Andres, Jacobo Ramon, Victor Munoz, Gonzalo Garcia, Jesus Fortea, and Diego Aguado.
However, not all are expected to remain under the club’s umbrella next season, having completed their cycle with Castilla.
Borussia Dortmund want Diego Aguado
As such, MARCA reports that Borussia Dortmund are set to make a fresh attempt to sign Diego Aguado from Real Madrid.
A few weeks ago, Borussia Dortmund submitted an offer for Aguado, worth around €6 million, which was turned down by Los Blancos.
However, now, the German giants are set to return with an improved bid, hoping to convince decision-makers at Valdebebas to reconsider.
Dortmund are offering the 18-year-old defensive prodigy minutes and first-team involvement – an attractive prospect for any young player.
However, Aguado remains focused on succeeding at Real Madrid. For now, he continues training with the senior squad in Palm Beach, and no decision will be made until after the Club World Cup.
Real Madrid rate Aguado very highly and see him as a potential first-team player for years to come. As such, it is extremely unlikely that any offers will be accepted for the teenage Spaniard this summer.
The likely scenario will be that Aguado continues to play for Castilla under Alvaro Arbeloa while Xabi Alonso continues to monitor him closely with an eye on integrating him into the Real Madrid first-team setup in the near future.
Real Madrid’s performance against Real Betis was shambolic, to say the least as the team faced many of the problems that have haunted them over the past couple of years.
But on a night where most of the attackers struggled to create anything of note, Dean Huijsen emerged as a lone bright spark for Los Blancos.
Huijsen keeps his promise
As reported by MARCA, Huijsen was the standout performer for Real Madrid, marshalling the backline with real authority even as the team struggled around him.
There has been a noticeable shift in the young defender’s mentality this season, with the player showing more competitive nature and looking much fiercer.
This is an attitude Huijsen had always promised, having inherited the iconic number four shift from David Alaba, a number he associates with his idols Sergio Ramos and Fernando Hierro.
“What I do know is that I’ll give everything of myself every day, whether in training or in a game,” he vowed, and at La Cartuja he delivered on that word.
His primary task was neutralising Juan ‘Cucho’ Hernandez, and he did so superbly, drying up the Colombian’s supply and repeatedly anticipating danger.
He also held his own in a niggly battle with Antony, refusing to be ruffled by one of Betis’ most inspired performers.
His composure on the ball, one of the qualities that has elevated him, saw him venture forward, forcing a fine save from the goalkeeper in the 11th minute and later heading against the woodwork.
The Konate partnership grows
Alongside him, Ibrahima Konate did his job, albeit without matching his partner’s brilliance.
The Frenchman was a little less assured, both in and out of possession, reflecting the two speeds of the centre-back pairing.
Huijsen looks settled and increasingly commanding, while Konate is still building the sharpness needed to reach his best in white.
Nonetheless, the partnership is heading in the right direction, and in Huijsen, Real Madrid appear to have unearthed a genuine leader for an area that has long been a weakness.
Each performance is also an argument to Luis de la Fuente, as the defender looks to reclaim the Spain spot he lost before the World Cup.
