“I’m going to Real Madrid”: Dean Huijsen’s bold prediction comes true
Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo reveals Huijsen knew he was destined for Madrid long before moving to the Spanish capital.

Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen and Manchester City attacker Antoine Semenyo go way back. The two were teammates at Bournemouth under head coach Andoni Iraola, forming a close friendship during their time on England’s south coast.
Their paths split soon after. Huijsen made a high-profile move to Madrid last summer, while Semenyo stayed in the Premier League before joining City in January, stepping into Pep Guardiola’s squad midseason.
Champions League reunion brings laughs
Fate brought them back together in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, when Real Madrid faced Manchester City. This time, they lined up as opponents, no longer teammates at Bournemouth.
Semenyo on going back to Bournemouth and how the banter has ALREADY started 😂
— All Out Football (@ItsAllOutFooty) April 21, 2026
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Speaking to ItsAllOutFooty, Semenyo shared a lighthearted story about their pregame exchanges.
“He was texting me the night before, saying, ‘I’m going to kick the shit out of you,’” Semenyo said, laughing. “And I told him, ‘Listen, just calm down, buddy. We get you’re at Real Madrid, just calm down.’”
Huijsed called Real Madrid move early
According to Semenyo, Huijsen’s confidence in his career path was clear from the very beginning.
“It’s funny, because when he signed for Bournemouth, he said, ‘I’m going to sign for Real Madrid next year,’” Semenyo recalled. “And then he actually did it the next summer. I was like, ‘Fair play.’”
It is the kind of self-belief that tends to define players who make it to the very top.
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