"When I was a kid, my biggest idol was Sergio Ramos, who wore the number 4 and was a true legend for Real Madrid and for world football. I still remember playing in his cleats, the SR4s, because I wanted to be just like him." Dean Huijsen didn't just get a squad number this summer. He got the one he'd been dreaming about since childhood.
The 21-year-old centre-back was handed the No. 4 shirt when Real Madrid's squad numbers were confirmed, stepping into a jersey that carries more history than most clubs' entire back catalogues. Ramos wore it for over a decade and turned it into a symbol of Madrid's dominance. Before him, Fernando Hierro gave it its original mythological status. David Alaba was the most recent custodian before his departure at the end of the 2025-26 season.
Huijsen acknowledged all three in his post — and noted something that makes Hierro's connection personal: "He's from Málaga, just like me."
Ramos responded. That says something.
Ramos himself replied to Huijsen's announcement. "I hope it brings you a lot of joy too," the former captain wrote. That's not nothing. Ramos is selective about who he publicly endorses in the Madrid setup, and lending his blessing to the new No. 4 signals real respect for the young defender.
Huijsen didn't hide from the responsibility either. "I know this jersey number has a history filled with legends, and I hope I can write my own story — and that one day people will consider me worthy of having worn this jersey and this number." Self-aware, grounded, and clearly motivated. Good signs for a player stepping into Mourinho's defensive structure at the highest level.
What it means on the pitch
The sentimental backstory is compelling, but the football question is straightforward: can Huijsen actually hold down that position under Mourinho? The Portuguese manager demands defensive discipline and tactical intelligence from his centre-backs above almost anything else. Huijsen has the profile — composed in possession, aggressive in duels — but the 2026-27 season will be his first real audition at this scale.
Madrid's defensive rebuild after Carvajal and Alaba's exits is one of the more interesting puzzles in European football heading into the new campaign. Anyone pricing up their defensive solidity in the Champions League market should pay close attention to how that backline beds in. Handing a 21-year-old the No. 4 reflects genuine confidence from the club — or a calculated gamble. Probably both.
"I'll give it my all every single day, whether it's in training or in a match." Now he has to prove it.
