Dean Huijsen made his debut for Juventus at the age of eighteen against AC Milan on Sunday evening, and received compliments from coach Massimiliano Allegri after the victory at San Siro. The defender was very happy with the opportunity provided by Allegri.
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Huijsen moved from the youth academy of Spanish club Málaga CF to Juventus in July 2021 and plays for Juventus Under-23 in Serie C-B. Against Milan, Allegri gave the young Dutchman, born in Amsterdam and raised in Spain from the age of five, a chance to showcase himself at the highest level as a substitute.
'This was a night I dreamed of as a kid. It turned into a night I will never forget,' Huijsen said on his Instagram account. 'It's impossible to describe what I'm feeling now, being rewarded for all the work I’ve put in to get here.'
'I want to thank all the people at Juventus who welcomed me and embraced me like a true family. This is just the beginning for me,' writes the defender from the Dutch Under-19 national team. Huijsen had been on the bench for several official Juventus matches this season but had not seen any action until now.
Compliments
Allegri found the final phase of the top match against Milan, in which Juventus was ahead due to a goal by Manuel Locatelli, a suitable moment to let Huijsen make his debut. "I'm very happy for Dean that he made his debut for Juventus. He is only eighteen years old, but he came in well and didn't put himself or his teammates in trouble at any moment. Dean can read the game wonderfully," Allegri, who got a bit carried away in the final phase.
After the victory, Juventus stands third in Serie A, two points behind league leaders Internazionale. "Inter, Milan, and Napoli remain the favorites for the title in my opinion," said Allegri. "We are focusing on qualifying for the Champions League. We must also not get ahead of ourselves: Fiorentina, Atalanta Bergamo, Lazio, and AS Roma are all close behind us."
Updated: 10:38, 23 Oct 2023
