AZ star Kees Smith has been in the headlines this week after admitting he’s been enjoying see his name linked with Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The defender spoke to the press while on international duty with the Netherlands U21 national team.
”[The U19 Euros] helped with the attention. Not in Zakynthos [while on holiday], but I did see my name all over social media. I read I was on the radar of Real Madrid and Barcelona. That made me proud,” he told De Telegraaf.
“I talk about it at home sometimes, not every week. But I know what I want – a good season with AZ. After that we’ll see. I want to take a step forward, but it doesn’t have to be next year. Still, I do want to reach the top as soon as possible.”
So what do we know about Smit and would he be a good signing for Barca? Well, the Dutch star is just 19 but shot to fame last summer with a brilliant showing at the U19 European Championship.
Smit didn’t just captain the Netherlands to the title, he also won the Player of the Tournament award and went home with the top scorer prize, too. Not bad going.
Barcelona have also come up against Smit already in his young career. He faced the Catalans in the UEFA Youth League back in 2023 and scored from the halfway line. As memorable goals go, it’s right up there.
Smit is already a regular for AZ and is widely regarded as one of the Netherlands’ most exciting talents. A senior call up to the national team may not be too far away which would see him link up with Frenkie de Jong - a player he’s already been compared with.
His rise has also got the rumor mill all excited. At the last count it’s not just Real Madrid and Barcelona who have been linked, Chelsea, Ajax, Bayern Munich and Manchester United are also thought to be keen on the teenager. That list will surely grow if he continues his current trajectory.
And it’s not just the De Jong comparisons that Smit has had to put up with. He’s also been likened to Kevin De Bruyne due to his great vision, passing range and ability in the final third.
The good news for Barcelona, if they are indeed keen, is that Smit does seem to be a fan. He was asked about the Blaugrana back in April and told de Volskrant: “I don’t know if that’s realistic; it depends on the coming years. They’re playing really great football again now, beautiful football.”
What we do know is that if Smit keeps impressing, the transfer talk will keep on coming.