Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published on Tuesday, 21 October 2025, 15:50 / Updated on Tuesday, 21 October 2025 15:58
On the eve of the Real Madrid duel – Juventus from the third stage in the Champions League group, the father of Blanco central defender Dean Huijsen attacks Cristiano Giuntoli hard, employed for two years as sporting director and left in the summer.
“Dean and other talented youngsters in the U23 team were sold by a certain manager before they had a chance to prove themselves at the senior level.” says Donny Huijsen, among the players in question is Radu Drăgușin, transferred to Genoa in July 2023 in exchange for the sum of 9.7 million euros.
The former Dutch footballer (52 years old), who won a title with Ajax, explains in a discussion in the Italian press why Dean Huijsen could not make the step from the Academy to the first team of Juventus.
Dean Huijsen, in the Juventus Next Gen shirt / Photo: Imago
12minutes only Dean Huijsen played for Juventus, exactly two years ago, in a Serie A game won at San Siro against Milan (1-0). At Juve Next Gen, he ticked off 30 matches, 3 goals and 2 assists
Donny Huijsen: “I remember Dean's time at Juve Next Gen with great pleasure. It really was a great project”
The current Spanish international was first loaned to AS Roma for a season (for €650,000), after which the Bianconeri they transferred him for 15 million euros to Bournemouth.
Juventus took him in 2021 from Malaga and raised him from U17 to U23, following the same route as Radu Drăgușin. But with the difference that the Spaniard of Dutch origin left Juve Next Gen a year later than the current Tottenham stopper.
“I remember Dean's time at Juve Next Gen with great pleasure. It was a wonderful project, well developed by Tognozzi, Cherubini and Manna. The only problem was a manager (Giuntoli) who sold all the talented players before they showed their talent in a Juventus shirt. I think this was the true dream of the founders of this project”, Donny Huijsen protested.
Cristiano Giuntoli was fired in July 2025 from Juventus / Photo: Imago
Do you think the current management would have sold Dean Huijsen for 15 million euros? You should also talk to the coach about this, ask him who he would choose between Dean and the other players!
Donny Huijsenthe father of Dean, the defender of Real Madrid
