Andoni Iraola has supported the departing Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen to shine in Real Madrid after his £ 50 million relocation was confirmed last week.
Huijsen arrived in Bournemouth from Juventus in 2024 and played a crucial role in their bid at European football, which ended with a defeat against Manchester City in midweek.
He was also nominated for the Young Player of the Season Award from the Premier League, after he had made 31 competition matches for the Cherries this campaign.
Huijsen, who made his senior Spain debut in March, reportedly attracted interest from Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, but Madrid acted quickly to secure his services.
He has an average of 4.1 progressive steps per 90 minutes in the Premier League, the third of all center backs to play in the competition for at least 1500 minutes.
“I have no doubt that he is ready for this jump,” Iraola said. “Real Madrid is probably the largest club in the world, or one of the biggest, but I think he has the level.
“Not only on the football side, but also maturity, the confidence in themselves to go there and to perform.
“He will have a lot of competition to play, but I trust him a lot and I think he will be very good for Real Madrid.”
Huijsen plays his last match for Bournemouth for the Vitality Stadium against the already related Leicester City on Sunday.
The Foxes signed their home campaign in the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Ipswich Town, where Jamie Vardy yielded his 200th goal for the club in his 500th outing.
Leicester is unbeaten in their last three league matches and wants to end an otherwise overwhelming season at a peak against the cherries.
And Ruud van Nistelrooy, whose future remains uncertain in the club, is of the opinion that the newest form of the club can only be a positive if they prepare for life in the second layer.
“There were some good spells involved. I think we generally gave away quite a few opportunities and opportunities to Ipswich,” said Van Nistelrooy.
“We could have done better there within a few moments, where we did not defend the ball or press the ball as we should.
“We gave them a bit too much, but we were able to block the shots or they missed the chances, so we were lucky not to admit.
“But we are changing the story and the focus on next season, giving young players a chance and a chance. They do very well and help the team.”
Players to watch
Bournemouth – Evanilson
Evanilson has enjoyed a solid debut campaign for the Cherries, this season has paid 10 league goals for the club, and he will want to add that count on Sunday.
However, the Brazilian has not scored at home since a victory over Ipswich Town at the beginning of April, with only three of his league goals in the Vitality Stadium.
Some incredible statistics from home this season pic.twitter.com/avcfsgxwcu
– AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) 22 May 2025
Leicester – Kasey Mcateer
With Vardy who played his last game for Leicester in last week's 2-0 win over Ipswich, Mcate will be the key to Van Nistelrooy's team at the top of the field.
He earned his first Premier League goal the last time-out, while he also ended with a team high for shots on Target (two) in the King Power Stadium against the Tractor Boys.
Match forecast: Bournemouth Win
Bournemouth is unbeaten in all six of their Premier League home matches against Leicester (W4 D2) and win the last three with a total score of 10-4.
But the cherries have struggled lately. They have lost five of their last seven league home games (W1 D1). Indeed, since the beginning of February, only Ipswich (six) have lost more at home than Bournemouth (five).
The Iraola team also lost their last two Premier League matches, which last May last three in a row last May, which were also their last three games of the 2023-24 campaign.
In the meantime, Leicester will be looking for a competition double about Bournemouth for the first time since 2013-14, after he had done this year in the championship. Their first victory of the season also met the cherries.
But the Foxes have lost their last league match in four of the last seven seasons (W2 D1), although they have won their last two as a Premier League side (US Southampton in 2021-22 and West Ham United in 2022-23).
Leicester has won two of their last three top matches (D1), as much as they had in their previous 26 (W2 D3 L21). They also scored six goals in their last three league games, as much as in their previous 19.
Opta wins probability
Bournemouth – 66.9%
Tick - 18%
Leicester – 15.1%