Real Madrid is close to signing one of European football’s gems for its midfield, but they don’t seem willing to take a chance on a young talent who could turn out to be a bargain if he reaches the expected level. As was the case with Huijsen, Kees Smit is on the Whites’ radar, but waiting several years for him to reach his full potential could mean a high cost that they could save now.
Kees Smit shines in the Netherlands
Kees Smit is a young midfielder for AZ Alkmaar, only 19 years old, and has been one of the most recognized Dutch players in recent years. He was champion in 2023 with his club in the UEFA Youth League and was champion of the youth championship with the Netherlands. Both victories are historic as they were the first in both competitions, and in both championships, Smit was the real star and the only witness to such a feat, being named the best player in both tournaments.
Among his skills, his impressive physique and great peripheral vision stand out. He plays with astonishing calm and exudes elegance every time he touches the ball. He is a total organizer and also a forceful and aggressive player, key to his role on the pitch. But he also knows how to play in more advanced positions, behind the forwards, as he has demonstrated in some of the championships played with the youth teams. These achievements have led him to establish himself as a starter in the first team of AZ Alkmaar and have generated significant interest among major European clubs.
The future of Kees Smit
Kees Smit has his feet on the ground and is not considering leaving AZ Alkmaar to sign for another team in the same league. He is very settled at his lifelong club and would only consider a change of scenery if he received a call from a big European club. For the moment, everything indicates that he will not be moving next season, but given Real Madrid’s urgency, everything could change radically in the coming days.
Real Madrid and the Huijsen mistake
Real Madrid has the example of Dean Huijsen to avoid making the same mistake in the future. Huijsen has always been on Real Madrid’s radar, but they decided not to bid for him. Without going any further, last season they could have signed the center back for around 15 million euros. It would have been a risky bet at the time, yes, but for that price, it would have been worth the risk.
The same is true right now with Kees Smit. The Dutchman is valued at 5 million on Transfermarkt. It is unlikely that the club could sign this gem for so little money, but if they could do so for around €15 million, it would be an easily recoverable and acceptable investment if the gamble did not pay off, but one that could turn into a great bargain if he finally fulfilled his potential.
Real Madrid has followed a transfer policy in recent years that would allow it to take a chance on this signing. The problem is that the ideal option would be to sign him for the second team, but the player, already established in his country’s first division, would not be willing to take what he would consider a step backwards. However, Real Madrid still has time to complete this signing, to offer him a future at Real Madrid, and even to give him the last available spot on the squad if Gonzalo is ultimately loaned out this season.