Rising defensive star withdraws from Spanish team due to injury, Real Madrid suffers blow

At a critical moment when the Spanish national team is preparing for the final match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Real Madrid received bad news - the team's 19-year-old central defender Dean Huizen was forced to withdraw from the current national team training session early due to muscle discomfort.

According to the official report of the Spanish Football Federation, Huizen failed to reach the physical condition required for the game in the latest training. After evaluation by the medical team, it was decided to let him return to the club to recuperate. He will miss the key World Cup qualifying match against Turkey at 2:45 a.m. on November 19.

The Football Association said in a brief statement: "Dean Huizen has withdrawn from the World Cup qualifiers against Turkey due to muscle discomfort. This problem has also previously caused him to be unable to play against Georgia. The player's club has been fully informed of the relevant situation."

According to sources in the team, Huizen's injury is not serious and only requires a short rest to fully recover. However, out of an abundance of caution, the Real Madrid medical team will still closely monitor his rehabilitation progress to avoid the recurrence of old injuries or the development of more serious problems.

For the Spanish coach, Huizen's absence has undoubtedly weakened the rotation depth of the defense line. The young central defender was originally regarded as an important backup force against Turkey. However, the coaching staff ultimately believed that instead of risking playing a player who is not in optimal physical condition, it is better to allow him to return to the club for recuperation to prevent overloading.

At the same time, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso is also facing employment problems. If Huizen cannot recover in time, Raoul Asensio is likely to get the chance to start in the away game against Elche in the league this weekend, replacing the central defender.

For Xu Sen, who is on the rise in his career, quitting the national team midway this time is obviously not an ideal situation - he is trying to gain a foothold in the Real Madrid first team and the Spanish national team at the same time. But all parties agreed that protecting his health and ensuring long-term development is far more important than a qualifying match at the moment.