“Het leven van Dumfries is in nauwelijks een maand volledig op zijn kop gezet,” Diario AS reported.
Denzel Dumfries has lost his regular starting position at Real Madrid following the October international break and returned to the Netherlands national team facing a difficult period, fcupdate.nl reported. The 30-year-old right-back was previously a fixture under both manager José Mourinho and national team coach Xavi Hernández.
The situation for the Dutch defender shifted rapidly after October fixtures. Diario AS reported that Dumfries departed for the international break as an undisputed starter under Mourinho, having featured in six of eight matches, and started four out of four under Hernández.
Upon returning to Madrid, however, he started only two of the club’s next eight games. The shift in playing time stemmed largely from Federico Valverde moving to the right-back position, VoetbalPrimeur reported.
Mourinho favored the Uruguayan midfielder at right-back in victories over Sevilla and RB Leipzig, alongside the Clásico against FC Barcelona on October 25, fcupdate.nl reported. That tactical adjustment directly reduced playing time for the Netherlands international.
Spanish media outlets also highlighted a recurring concern regarding Dumfries’s defensive sharpness in a four-man backline. VoetbalPrimeur said that his defensive vulnerabilities have drawn ongoing scrutiny throughout his career.
Diario AS pointed out that during October’s international matches, Dumfries was directly connected to three of the five goals conceded by the national team. Twee goede wedstrijden bieden een kans om het beeld te veranderen dat Mourinho van hem heeft.
Within the Oranje squad, Dumfries retains the inside track on the right flank despite competition from Jurriën Timber, Lutsharel Geertruida, and Sepp van den Berg, according to fcupdate.nl. With Virgil van Dijk absent, Dumfries enters the fixtures as the most experienced player in the squad with 80 international caps.
The defender joined Real Madrid from Internazionale last summer for a 20 million euro buyout clause, signing a contract through mid-2030. He has made eight La Liga appearances totaling 449 minutes without a goal or assist this season, alongside 239 minutes across three UEFA Champions League matches featuring one assist.
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