After dominating English and European football under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City can be mentioned in the same breath as Real Madrid and Barcelona as a footballing superpower.
Riyad Mahrez highlighted Manchester City’s stature in 2021 by claiming that he does not view any other club on the same pedestal as them.
When Erling Haaland was linked to Real Madrid, it is believed that people close to the star striker “laughed off” the speculation.
Pep Guardiola can be proud that he has managed to help turn City into one of the biggest clubs on the planet.
Man City target Kees Smit says Real Madrid and Barcelona want to sign him
Earlier this month, Manchester City News exclusively revealed that Guardiola’s side are interested in signing Kees Smit.
However, Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Marseille are all keen on signing Smit.
Kees Smit of Netherlands Under-19 Football Team is awarded the Player of the Tournament trophy, as Netherlands U19 are crowned Under-19 Tournament winners after the Spain vs. Netherlands: UEFA European Under-19 Championship 2025 Final
Photo by Alexandra Fechete/MB Media/Getty Images
More Man City News
Speaking to HLN Nieuws, the AZ Alkmaar midfielder has confirmed that aside from Real Madrid, even Barcelona have registered their interest in his services, saying: “Those are great things. The two biggest clubs in the world, I think. I thought it was nice to see and read about.”
“I just want to show here that I can do it.”
Manchester City target Smit admitted that as flattering as it is that Real Madrid and Barcelona are chasing his signature, he is unsure about playing regular football at either of the clubs: “The interest from Barca and Real is nice but of course, you don’t know if I’ll play. I’m not really distracted by it.”
Kees Smit has already dropped a huge hint about his dream club
With the Dutchman contracted to AZ until 2028, only time will tell which clubs win the race to sign him.
As a player, Smit is renowned for being a brilliant technician, who has the ability to control the tempo of games while also being tenacious in the middle of the park.
KEES SMIT FACTFILE
FULL NAME KEES SMIT
AGE 19
CLUB AZ ALKMAAR
BIRTHPLACE HEILOO
DATE OF BIRTH 21 JANUARY, 2006
POSITION CENTRAL MIDFIELDER
TROPHIES WON U-19 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
In some ways, the Heiloo-born wonderkid can be likened to Tijjani Reijnders, who classes himself as a box-to-box midfielder.
Despite Manchester City and Barcelona’s interest in Smit among several clubs, Diario AS published a photo of him sporting a Real Madrid shirt.
It seems like the 19-year-old admires Los Blancos, which gives them a potential advantage in the race to secure his services.
If the highly-rated midfielder does not sign for Manchester City, they perhaps need not be worried as wonderkids like 17-year-old Divine Mukasa, who plays like Kevin De Bruyne, as per his own admission are coming through their academy.