At just 19, Kees Smit is already in a spot most young soccer players can only dream of: both Barcelona and Real Madrid want him. The AZ Alkmaar midfielder, who was named the best player at the Under-19 Euro and lifted the trophy with the Netherlands in their first-ever title at that level, admitted to NH newspaper that he’s been on the radar of Spain’s two powerhouses. “They’re the two biggest clubs in the world. I enjoyed watching and reading about it. But there’s nothing concrete, it’s just interest. The interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid is positive, but if I go now, there’s no telling if I’ll play,” he said. It’s a grounded answer, the kind that shows he isn’t blinded by the spotlight.
He could’ve played along with the buzz, but Smit keeps his eyes on the now. “I know what I want: to have a good season with AZ. After that, I’ll see what happens. In the end, I want to make the leap, but it doesn’t have to be next year.” For someone his age, that’s unusual. Transfers get pushed earlier and earlier these days, yet here’s a kid choosing patience. Having made his professional debut in 2024, with two assists in nine matches so far, he knows minutes on the field matter more than headlines.
Between the lure of giants and the safety of AZ
Smit didn’t just pop up out of nowhere. In 2023, he caught attention with a long-range goal from midfield against Barcelona, a strike that went viral and hinted at his potential. Then came the Under-19 Euro, the Netherlands’ first-ever triumph in the category, and he walked away with the player of the tournament award. Today, few doubt he’s one of the country’s brightest prospects.
Still, it’s not only the talent that people talk about. It’s how he reacts to the noise around him. While plenty of youngsters get carried away by big names, he seems aware that clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid can swallow you whole if you’re not ready. At Barça, maybe there’d be space to grow next to Pedri and Gavi in a midfield under construction. At Madrid, though, the battle for a spot is brutal. Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, all already fighting for minutes. Smit himself admitted that right now he’d likely lose more than he’d gain.
The future he’s building for himself
By sticking with AZ, Smit shows he’s not rushing. He’d rather keep playing, make mistakes, learn, and build himself up instead of becoming just another young guy sitting on the bench of a star-studded squad. That choice gives him something many players his age don’t really have: time.
Soccer’s market tends to look only at what’s happening right now, but he seems to see a little further down the road. It’s not about turning down the dream of playing for a superclub, it’s about making sure he’s ready when that dream becomes real. And that patience might be exactly what turns Smit from just another promising name into a player who lasts in European soccer.