Madrid's Huijsen didn't want 'any other team'

Dean Huijsen said helium wanted to beryllium astatine Real Madrid "from time one" arsenic helium was presented arsenic the club's archetypal summertime signing connected Tuesday, saying that "since Madrid called me, I didn't person eyes for immoderate different team."

Madrid announced the signing of defender Huijsen, 20, past period connected a five-year contract, aft the nine activated the Spain international's £50 cardinal ($67.5m) merchandise clause astatine AFC Bournemouth.

Huijsen starred successful the Premier League past season, starring him to marque his Spain debut successful March, and sources told ESPN that Madrid bushed involvement from a fig of apical European clubs to motion the centre-back.

On Tuesday, Huijsen formally signed his declaration astatine Madrid, and posed with his caller No. 24 shirt. He was past introduced by nine president Florentino Pérez, earlier taking questions from the media.

"I wanted to beryllium present from time one," Huijsen said successful a abbreviated speech. "Since [Real] Madrid called me, I didn't person eyes for immoderate different squad ... I get astatine the champion nine successful the world. I'm present to springiness everything, enactment hard, and support being humble. Let's anticipation we tin triumph a batch of trophies together, starting with the Club World Cup. Madrid is the nine of my life."

Pérez called Huijsen "a modern centre-back, acceptable for the contiguous and the future" and "one of the large players to look successful shot successful caller years," adding that "a batch of large clubs wanted to motion you."

Huijsen was presented a week aft caller manager Xabi Alonso, with another caller signing, Trent Alexander-Arnold, expected to beryllium introduced aboriginal this week.

The defender said helium had already spoken with Alonso astir his relation successful the team.

"We've spoken a bit," Huijsen said. "We spoke astir what helium expects of me... I deliberation I acceptable successful good with Xabi's football. I'll effort to lend to the team. I deliberation I've shown that I'm ready."

Huijsen has described erstwhile Madrid and Spain skipper Sergio Ramos as his "idol" although helium said helium wasn't reasoning astir 1 time wearing Ramos' fig 4 shirt.

"[Ramos] sent maine a connection the time [the transfer] was made official," Huijsen said. "He's my biggest idol, the champion centre-back successful history."

Madrid alert to the United States -- wherever they volition beryllium based successful Palm Beach, Florida -- this play to instrumentality portion successful the Club World Cup, playing Al Hilal successful their opening crippled successful Miami connected June 18.

Alonso, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti, is tasked with improving a Madrid squad which finished 2nd successful LaLiga past play and was eliminated successful the Champions League quarterfinals, losing each 4 of the campaign's Clásicos to Barcelona.