José Mourinho is facing a genuine selection crisis in Real Madrid’s midfield ahead of their UEFA Champions League opener against Inter Milan, prompting him to consider unconventional tactical solutions—including potentially pushing defender Dean Huijsen into a midfield role.
According to a report by Diario AS, the tactical option remains a possibility under evaluation rather than a definitive decision by Mourinho. The Portuguese manager retains alternative options, including Jude Bellingham, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and academy prospect Jorge Cistero.
Real Madrid will be without three players due to suspension: Bernardo Silva following his red card with Manchester City against Real Madrid last season, alongside Arda Güler and Eduardo Camavinga due to disciplinary sanctions dating back to the quarter-final clash against Bayern Munich.
They are joined on the sidelines by the injured Aurélien Tchouaméni, as well as youngster Thiago Pitarch, who suffers from a knee sprain. This leaves Federico Valverde as Mourinho’s only fully fit and confirmed senior central midfielder.
Huijsen possesses attributes that make the tactical conversion appealing, notably his composure under pressure, passing range, and ability to initiate build-up play from deep. However, shifting him out of defense would deprive the central pairing of Antonio Rüdiger and Ibrahima Konaté of their primary ball-playing defender.
There is no documented evidence of Huijsen playing regularly as a midfielder during his professional career. Remarkably, he began his development as a central striker at Marbella’s Costa Unida academy before coach David Santos persuaded him to transition to center-back to maximize his height and ball distribution.
Mourinho is intimately familiar with the Spaniard’s capabilities, having personally brought him to Roma on loan from Juventus. During that spell, Huijsen scored a memorable solo goal against Frosinone after embarking on a run from deep inside midfield, highlighting his comfort operating in advanced areas.
The proposed tactical shift recalls Mourinho’s first tenure at Real Madrid, where he famously deployed center-back Pepe in midfield for high-stakes fixtures—a tactical move later mirrored by Carlo Ancelotti with Sergio Ramos in the 2013 El Clásico.
