Midfield Gem Kees Smit Leans Towards La Liga Amid Real Madrid Interest, Acknowledges Barcelona Idols

Highly-rated midfielder Kees Smit, a reported target for Real Madrid, has openly stated his preference for a move to Spain's La Liga over the English Premier League. This revelation is likely to resonate positively with Real Madrid fans, though Smit also surprisingly named two Barcelona legends as his childhood idols.

Smit is believed to be on Real Madrid's radar as they look to bolster their midfield this summer. With agent Jorge Mendes now representing AZ Alkmaar in potential negotiations, his valuation is estimated at around €60 million. Beyond Real Madrid, several prominent Premier League clubs, including Newcastle United, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal, have also been linked with the promising talent, with Manchester City's Rodri Hernandez also mentioned as a potential alternative target for Los Blancos.

Smit's La Liga Ambition

The young midfielder has previously attracted attention from both Barcelona and Real Madrid. Speaking to Supergaande, Smit articulated his desire for a move to Spain, emphasizing the appeal of the climate. "I'd love to play in La Liga. Playing there would be fantastic. I adore the sun; I'm weary of playing in so much cold and rain, so going to Spain to play would be a dream," he shared, as reported by Diario AS.

While he initially envisioned staying within the Netherlands for his next career step, Smit now believes an international transfer is more probable. He also reflected on his past commitment to AZ Alkmaar: "Ideally, I'd like to take the next step at another team in the Netherlands, but I don't think that's going to happen. I never considered leaving AZ. My dream was to play here for the rest of my life."

Past Decisions and Development

Last summer, Smit confirmed receiving offers from top clubs, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, but chose to remain at AZ for further development. He explained his decision: "I had offers, but I felt it was best to keep developing here. To be honest, I never even looked at the figures they were offering. And thank goodness for that. Otherwise, I would have started to have doubts. In the end, I’m happy with my decision." He added, "Last year, I struggled mainly physically. I felt I had a lot of room for improvement, so it was best to keep growing here. I quickly earned the trust of the teammates."

Barcelona Influence and Future Prospects

Adding an intriguing layer to his future, Smit previously declared Barcelona his favorite club in November, citing Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta as his primary role models growing up. While this admiration might not endear him instantly to the Santiago Bernabéu faithful, it doesn't preclude a move to Real Madrid.

Smit is recognized as one of Europe's bright midfield prospects, a position Real Madrid is keen to strengthen. Conversely, Barcelona, despite having several squad areas to address, boasts significant depth in midfield. Given the anticipated high transfer fee, it appears improbable that the Catalan giants will actively pursue Smit, leaving the door open for other suitors.