According to a report by Madrid Universal on Sunday October 18, 2026, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has identified a major weakness in Dean Huijsen’s game that is preventing the young defender from establishing himself as an undisputed starter at the Spanish club.

According to reports, Mourinho believes the Spain international needs to improve his physical strength, particularly when competing against powerful opposition forwards in individual duels.

Huijsen initially impressed following Mourinho’s arrival, showing his quality in possession and his ability to help Real Madrid build attacks from the back. However, his progress has suffered a setback following his dismissal during the Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid.

The defender reportedly conceded a penalty before receiving a red card in the encounter, an incident that disrupted his momentum. He subsequently missed the match against Villarreal through suspension and was left on the bench for the Champions League clash against Roma.

Antonio Rudiger has strengthened his case for a regular starting position, while Eder Militao’s return from injury has increased the competition for places in central defence. Ibrahima Konate is also among the options available to Mourinho.

The report claims Mourinho wants Huijsen to learn from his more experienced teammates, particularly Rudiger and Militao, as he works to become stronger and more effective in physical battles.

Despite those concerns, Huijsen remains highly valued for his technical qualities. His composure on the ball and ability to deliver accurate passes from deep make him an important option when Real Madrid need to build attacks patiently.

Those attributes could help him retain a place in Mourinho’s plans, but the manager reportedly believes the defender must become more reliable when facing physically imposing attackers.

At his age, Huijsen still has time to develop, and his recent mistakes do not necessarily mean he cannot become a key figure at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, the competition for places means he will need to demonstrate consistent improvement.

If the young centre-back can combine his excellent distribution with greater physical strength and defensive discipline, he could establish himself as one of Real Madrid’s most important defenders.