Real Madrid News
Two Real Madrid academy talents on the radars of La Liga relegation survivors
Towards the end of the La Liga campaign, Carlo Ancelotti was forced to turn to the Real Madrid youth setup for players as the senior team was struck down with a host of injury problems.
As such, a number of young talents got a chance to train with the senior team and make the matchday squads, with a few even going on to play for the Merengues.
Two such young talents who were involved regularly in the first-team setup in the past few weeks were Victor Munoz and Youssef Lekhedim ‘Yusi’.
Alaves want Munoz and Yusi
Now, according to AS, Alaves are interested in signing both Victor Munoz and Yusi from Real Madrid in the summer.
Having just about managed to survive the threat of relegation, finishing 15th (two points above Leganes in 18th), Alaves are eager to strengthen their squad before next season.
Munoz and Yusi, to that end, have emerged as potential targets for Eduardo Coudet’s side.
Munoz, 21, racked up 11 goals and seven assists in 34 league appearances for Castilla this season under Raul Gonzalez.
The young winger made his La Liga debut against Barcelona and featured against Sevilla as well. His contract expires next year and several other La Liga clubs are also interested.
As for Yusi, the Spanish-Moroccan left-back played 35 times for Castilla in the RFEF Primera Division this term, managing a goal and four assists.
The 19-year-old, whose contract expires in 2028, was in the first-team squad for seven games under Ancelotti but did not make his debut.
Real Madrid and Alaves have a history of working closely, particularly through loan deals and transfers that include the Merengues retaining a 50% sell-on clause. Whether the two teams
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.
