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From Passive to Proactive? Dean Huijsen as Real Madrid’s New Defensive Face

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When Spanish defender Dean Huijsen signed for Bournemouth in the summer of 2024, he was just 19 years old. The fee—12.8 million pounds paid to Juventus—might sound modest by Premier League standards, where hundreds of millions are spent each window. But his first season in England? Anything but modest.

Since arriving, Huijsen has made a name for himself and fans can bet on him. Almost immediately, his name was linked with numerous top clubs. Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, Tottenham, and giants beyond England like Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Real Madrid.

Born in Amsterdam in 2005, Dean is the son of Donny Huijsen, a former professional who played in the Dutch top leagues. In 2010, the family relocated to Spain, where Dean began to shine in Málaga’s academy. In 2021, he joined Juventus, worked through the youth ranks, and made his senior debut in 2023. A five-month loan to Roma opened the door to top-level football—and Bournemouth acted quickly to sign the rising star.

He represented the Netherlands youth teams up to under-19 level but received Spanish citizenship in 2024. In 2025, he debuted for Spain’s senior national team—ironically against the Netherlands, at De Kuip in Rotterdam.

Coach Andoni Iraola gave him a platform at Bournemouth, and Huijsen delivered standout performances. “My dad is my agent,” he explained regarding transfer rumors. “He handles everything. I don’t read any of it. I just focus on my football.”

Defensive Attributes

Huijsen is an aggressive, tall (1.97m), right-footed center back who is comfortable playing on either side of a central pairing. He likes stepping out of the defensive line to challenge attackers or attempt interceptions high up the pitch. He has good timing, strong game understanding, and is not afraid to engage physically with opposing midfielders.

His goal is to disrupt the opponent’s reception of the ball, preventing them from turning or receiving it facing the goal. Instead, he forces them to receive with their back to goal—a position that limits attacking options. This proactive style requires backup from mobile fullbacks and midfielders who can recover loose balls. Trust Alonso to bring this modern, aggressive tactical edge to Real Madrid.

Huijsen follows his marker deep into the field rather than passing off responsibility. In aerial duels, he excels, often challenging even the most physical strikers. Though lean, his frame is deceptive—he is strong and unafraid of contact. If he loses the initial duel, it can expose gaps behind, but in a three-center-back setup, Madrid would have cover for his proactive movements. As a pressure-leading defender, he sometimes struggles to recover quickly, especially when dribbled past, which is something he will need to improve over time.

On the Ball

Huijsen is comfortable on both feet. He likes to drive forward and launch long, arching passes, often over the top of the defense. While accurate, he still needs to add ground-breaking passes to his toolkit, especially against deep defensive blocks.

He often drives forward at pace, but that can hinder decision-making. Slowing down slightly could help him make better choices. Alonso will need to teach Huijsen how to control the tempo—something the coach excelled at during his own playing days. Against compact defenses, Huijsen will need to find sharper solutions rather than relying on long balls.

Anchor in Bournemouth’s Defense

Despite being right-footed, Huijsen played almost exclusively as the left center back in a four-man defense this season. He paired with Ukrainian defender Illia Zabarnyi, just two years older—and together, they formed one of the league’s top duos.

Iraola’s Bournemouth posted the highest number of defensive duels per game in the league (72.4), and Huijsen was a key contributor—with a success rate of 74.3 percent (the best in the team among players with 50 or more duels) and 5.26 interceptions per match, third best in the squad.

The center backs supported a high press, closing central spaces and enabling midfielders to step up. Huijsen pressed, intercepted, and midfielders like Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie reacted to win second balls and launch counters.

When defending deep, the center backs stayed close to limit exposure to pace. Bournemouth’s fullbacks pushed high, requiring the central defenders and holding midfielders to cover critical space—and Huijsen did this well.

Bottom Line

Bournemouth gave Dean Huijsen the platform—and he delivered big time. In his first Premier League season, he became one of Europe’s most exciting young defenders.

If he improves in a few specific areas at Real Madrid, like ground-based progression—a key in Alonso’s system—and recovery tracking during transitions, he has the potential to become one of the best center backs in Europe in the coming years.

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Who Is Mariana Luccon? All about the Ex-Wife Of Roberto Carlos

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Mariana Luccon Roberto Carlos' ex-wife

Roberto Carlos Ex-Wife Mariana Luccon Wiki 2025- Age, Net Worth, Career, Kids, Family and more

Mariana Luccon is famous for being the ex-wife of Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos

Mariana has a fun personality and an optimistic approach to life. She has been loyal to Roberto Carlos for many years. Apart from being a responsible wife, she is also a caring mother. Despite having major stardom, the Brazilian beauty has always favoured peaceful family time, hence she rarely indulges herself in any media appearances.

That’s why many fans don’t know much about her lifestyle. This article will probably have all the answers to your questions. Roberto Carlos is considered one of the greatest full-backs of all time. In his prime, strikers dared to cross paths with him and opponent defenders feared his ruthless runs down the flank. He was a part of the Real Madrid ‘Galacticos’ team.

He has also played with Inter Milan, Corinthians, Fenerbahce. He was massively famous at his peak time. But many fans don’t know that his wife has an equally exciting life. So follow along to know more about the stunning wife of Roberto Carlos.                                                                                                         

Mariana Luccon Facts & Wiki

BirthdayJune 18
Place of BirthBrazil
NationalityBrazilian
ResidencyN.A 
Partner Roberto Carlos
JobActress 
Instagram@mari18freitas
Height5 ft 5 in (167 cm)
Weight55 kg (121 lbs)
TattoosNo 
SmokingN.A
Sister / BrotherN.A
Father & MotherN.A
ReligionN.A
Hair ColourBrown
Eye ColourBrown 
Net Worth (approx.)N.A

Mariana Luccon Childhood and Family 

Mariana was born on June 18 in Brazil, making her Brazilian nationality. As said earlier, she is the kind of person who avoided the media her whole life. She was searching for the love of her life, and when she found Roberto Carlos and formed a family, nothing in the world mattered more to her than spending time with her loved ones.

That’s why there is very little to no information available about her childhood. We currently don’t know who her father and mother are and their jobs. Whether she has any siblings is still under review. We believe her parents did an excellent job raising her; the ethics and morale that they taught reflect Mariana’s characteristics.

We are looking for more details about her family and childhood. So stay tuned to know more about the stunning wife of Roberto Carlos.                                                           

Mariana Luccon Education

Mariana went to a local high school in Brazil. Being a studious and hard-working student, she excelled in her studies. As she hasn’t shared much about her educational journey, we are unsure whether she went for further education after that.                                   

Mariana Luccon career 

Mariana hasn’t revealed anything about her current role. She keeps her Instagram profile private, so we didn’t have any luck finding information there either. However, the information we have strongly suggests that she is a full-time housewife.

She has been a mother for a very long time. As she enjoys hanging with her children and husband at home, she took the role of taking good care of her family. Many think there is no difficulty in being a housewife. Well, the truth is it can be very frustrating and stressful at times.

But the rewards are equally more significant. Spending a reasonable amount of time with children and teaching them good values from an early age ensures that the children maintain a good character when they get old. Mariana is also an excellent wife. She has supported Carlos in every move. The Brazilian footballer dealt with many failures during his playing career, and Mariana ensured that he retained a better mood when he got home.                               

Mariana Luccon is a housewife. (Picture was taken from okdiario.com)
Mariana Luccon is a housewife. (Picture was taken from okdiario.com)

Mariana Luccon Net Worth 

Mariana’s net worth is currently under review. She hasn’t disclosed her earnings. We don’t know anything about her current or past roles, so we have no idea of her total worth.

But that doesn’t indicate her lifestyle. Mariana’s husband, Roberto Carlos, accumulated a considerable amount of money during his playing time. So his high bank balance ensures a luxurious life for his family.                                       

Mariana Luccon and Roberto Carlos relationship

Roberto Carlos and Mariana were long-term love birds. The duo never shared how their love story started. But as Carlos was one of the famous Brazilian footballers at that time, we believe it wasn’t pretty difficult for Mariana to find the love of her life.

The duo was pretty impressed with each other’s characteristics, and they decided to take the relationship forward after their first meeting. As they started meeting more and more, they realized that they were madly in love. After several years of dating, the pair finally tied the knot in 2009 at a grand wedding ceremony that was organized in São Paulo, Brazil.

Despite having a solid bond with Mariana, Roberto Carlos couldn’t stay loyal to one woman. During his peak years, he dated several girls. He has a total of 11 children from seven different relationships. However, Mariana forgave the Brazilian every time.                                                                

Mariana Luccon and Roberto Carlos are long term partners. (Credit: Abaca)
Mariana Luccon and Roberto Carlos are long-term partners. (Credit: Abaca)

But in early 2025, the couple divorced, after nearly 16 years of marriage. However, it is being said that it could be complicated due to dispute of Carlos’ massive $160 million plus fortune.

Mariana Luccon and Roberto Carlos Children  

The duo has two beautiful children together. Their first daughter, Manuela da Silva Rocha was born in March 2010. Mariana gave birth to their second daughter, Nina da Silva Rocha in July 2017. However, these are not the only children that Carlos has. He has another nine children from other relationships. He even became a grandfather when his daughter, Giovanna da Silva Rocha, welcomed a son.   

Roberto Carlos with his wife and two children. (Credit: Instagram)
Roberto Carlos with his wife and two children. (Credit: Instagram)

Mariana Luccon Social media 

Mariana is not a social media person. Even though she has an Instagram account, she has kept it private. She always maintained a low-key lifestyle and never got around the idea of sharing images of private moments.                    

FAQs about Mariana Luccon

When did Mariana Luccon and Roberto Carlos get married?
They got married in 2009. 
What is Mariana Luccon doing now?
She is a housewife.  
How old is Mariana Luccon?
It is not currently known.
Nationality of Mariana Luccon?
She is Brazilian. 
What is Mariana Luccon’s net worth?
Her net worth is unknown. 

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PSG

‘Legones!’ Only 5 of the Real Madrid stars who started against Leganes last time remain in the squad

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Leganes vs. Real Madrid in 2020

The lineup of Real Madrid looked very very different the last time they faced Leganes in the LaLiga, albeit, only 4 years ago.

It’s been over 4 years since Leganes and Real Madrid faced off. It was the last matchday of the extended COVID-19 footballing season. On the 20th of July, 2020, Los Blancos visited the Estadio Municipal de Butarque.

The match ended 2-2, after Roger Assale equalized 12 minutes before the 90th minute. However, the Real Madrid lineup that started against Leganes, now just has 5 players remaining in the squad.

Here is a look at Real Madrid’s team against Leganes, the last time the two teams faced off in the LaLiga.

GK – Alphonse Areola

This was one of Areola’s four appearances for Real Madrid. He was on loan from PSG, for the 2019-20 season. He left PSG in 2022, and joined West Ham United, where he currently plays.

CB – Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos
Spanish defender Sergio Ramos celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Clermont Foot 63 at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on June 3, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Club legend Sergio Ramos left Real Madrid in 2021 to join PSG. After two years at the Ligue 1 club, Ramos joined boyhood club Sevilla. He is now a free-agent after playing at Sevilla for a year.

CDM – Casemiro

Casemiro
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 01: Casemiro of Manchester United looks on during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford on November 01, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

After almost a decade at Real Madrid, Casemiro joined Manchester United in 2022. Since then he has been a regular starter for the Red Devils.

CAM – Isco

The magical Isco left Real Madrid in 2022 and joined Sevilla. After a year at Sevilla, Isco joined Real Betis, and is one of their key stars now.

RW – Marco Asensio

Another Real Madrid player with a PSG connection. After almost 10 years at Real Madrid, Asensio joined PSG in 2023. He currently plays for the French side.

ST – Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema
TOPSHOT – French forward Karim Benzema greets the crowd during his unveiling at King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah, on June 8, 2023. Benzema was unveiled as an Al-Ittihad player in front of thousands of fans in Saudi Arabia on June 8, a day after the oil-rich kingdom just failed to reel in Lionel Messi. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

The phoneomenal Karim Benzema, despite already being in his 11th season, had his glory years still ahead of him. His 2021/22 exploits earned him the Ballon d’Or. Finally in 2023, Benzema left Madrid to join Al-Ittihad in the Saudi League.

The rest of the lineup are still at the club, and in fact are the main starters at the club. The LW was Vinicius Jr, who is one of the most integral stars of Los Blancos. The midfield still has Fede Valverde. And it was the defense that remains almost intact – Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao and Lucas Vazquez.

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Arsenal

Where are they now: 2 of Unai Emery’s signings at Arsenal who were bought on loan

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Unai Emery and Denis Suarez

Here is everything you should know about the 2 stars who were signed by Unai Emery on loan, during his time at Arsenal.

Unai Emery’s first year at Arsenal began quite brightly. After a rather tough start, the team quickly found its rhythm and went on a long unbeaten run, in fact, a staggering one. After an August 2018 loss to Chelsea, they were not breached in 22 games, until December.

A Bernd Leno mistake in the dying minutes of the game, against least expected Southampton saw them snap their 4-month long run. While they were stuck in a rut for a short while after that, they recovered quite well, and were on pole position to finish in the top 4, and also win the UEFA Europa League 2018/19. Unfortunately a torrid May 2018, saw them lose out on both, turning a promising season to a rather lackluster one.

Unai Emery and Arsene Wenger
Unai Emery and Arsene Wenger (via Sky Sports)

The next season, Emery soon lost the support of the Gooners, and was sacked in November 2019. During his time at the North London club, Emery made 12 major signings, of which 2 of them were on loan.

Here is a look at the 2 Unai Emery signings at Arsenal, who joined the club on loan.

Denis Suarez

One of the worst loan signings in Arsenal’s recent history. The Spaniard had the Unai Emery-connection during their time at Sevilla back in 2014/15. Under Emery, Suarez made 31 league appearances for Sevilla on loan.

Back to Arsenal, Suarez was signed towards the very end of the 2018 Winter Transfer Window. In his short loan spell, Suarez made just 6 appearances for Arsenal, and 4 were in the English Premier League. All four of Suarez’s appearances in the EPL were as a substitute, and it totaled just 67 minutes.

The Spaniard, looking back (in 2020) at his loan spell for Arsenal, in an interview with The Athletic, stated that he was in pain due to several severe injuries during his short stay at the North London club. Right after his first appearance as a sub against Manchester City, Suarez injured his groin, resulting in intolerable pain. He also suffered from bouts of pelvic and muscle injuries.

Suarez also stated that he was asked to play in the position of a winger, while he was primarily a midfielder. He returned to Barcelona the same year, and was sold to Celta Vigo where he found his footing. Suarez made close to 100 league appearances for them, before moving to Villarreal in 2023. He is once again on the sidelines (for a year) due to injury.

Dani Ceballos

Dani Ceballos Arsenal Manchester City Carabao Cup
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Dani Ceballos looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Burnley FC at Emirates Stadium on August 17, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Right after Denis Suarez’s departure came Dani Ceballos. A Spanish midfielder playing a very similar role to Suarez but from their rival club Real Madrid. Some feared that Ceballos might end up like Suarez, but it was not so. To this day, Ceballos remains one of Arsenal’s underrated loan signings.

Ceballos made his debut for Arsenal against Burnley in August 2019. During his time at the North London club, he scored two goals, one coming in the UEFA Europa League, and the other, a massive one, against Sheffield United in the quarter-finals of Arsenal’s successful FA Cup winning campaign. It was a winner, in the dying minutes of the game.

After a year-long loan spell, Ceballos’ love for then-new manager Mikel Arteta saw him extend his stay at Arsenal. He finally left the club at the end of the 2020/21 season, and has been at Real Madrid ever since.

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