Dean Huijsen, the 20-year-old Spain international who made his name during an impressive Premier League campaign with Bournemouth before securing a high-profile transfer to Real Madrid, has issued an apology following the sharing of racially offensive material on social media.
The defender reposted content on his Instagram account, which boasts 5.2 million followers, that Chinese users condemned as racist towards the Asian community.
"I sincerely apologise to my Chinese friends," the statement read.
"I previously forwarded content that included offensive messages unintentionally. It was completely unintentional, and I regret the distress caused."
Dean Huijsen has apologised for sharing racially insensitive post
|REUTERS
The apology appeared exclusively on the Spanish club's official Weibo account.
The now-deleted post featured an image of an Asian individual accompanied by deeply offensive remarks from internet users.
One comment stated "even the Chinese call him Chinese," whilst another read "you could blindfold him with dental floss" – a crude reference to the shape of Asian people's eyes.
The screenshot, which Huijsen shared as a reel on his Instagram page, drew immediate condemnation from followers who branded the content racist.
The Dutch-Spanish defender has since removed the material from his profile, though the damage to his burgeoning reputation at the Bernabéu appears considerable as the controversy continues to unfold.
Dean Huijsen shared a video on his Instagram, which included racist comments about Chinese people
|Chinese supporters have expressed significant dissatisfaction with how the club has addressed the matter.
Critics have highlighted that the statement appeared solely on Weibo, a platform specifically targeting the Chinese market, whilst remaining conspicuously absent from both Huijsen's personal accounts and Real Madrid's global channels.
The club's Instagram following stands at 181 million, with a further 49 million on X – yet neither platform has acknowledged the incident.
Fans are now calling for a worldwide apology or video statement, with many questioning whether the remorse represents genuine contrition or merely an exercise in protecting the club's substantial commercial interests in the region.
The incident has drawn pointed criticism from supporters who note an apparent inconsistency in the club's approach to discrimination.
Dean Huijsen came under fire in the comments section for sharing the video
|One fan commented: "While Real Madrid is speaking out against racism, Huijsen is making racist remarks against Chinese people.
"Why hasn't the club responded? Does your anti-racism stance only apply when Vinicius Jr is the one being discriminated against?"
The controversy emerges as UEFA investigates allegations of racist abuse directed at Vinícius Júnior by Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni during a recent Champions League encounter.
Dean Huijsen signed for Real Madrid in the summer
|GETTY
In 2024, Real Madrid faced similar criticism after a supporter posted a video described by the Chinese Embassy in Spain as "insulting to China, vulgar and malicious" ahead of the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.