Real Madrid ramp up move for AZ prospect Kees Smit - scouts clock multiple live checks

Real Madrid have stepped up their pursuit of AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit, with club scouts attending multiple recent fixtures to watch the Dutch teenager up close. Smit, a composed, progressive midfielder from AZ’s vaunted academy, fits the club’s long-term plan of refreshing the engine room with high-ceiling talents who can grow under Carlo Ancelotti. Sources close to the scouting operation confirm Madrid’s analysis is advanced and positive. I watched Smit in person earlier this season and his calm under pressure, tempo control and decision making stood out. This is a smart, forward-looking target that lines up perfectly with Madrid’s recruitment model.

In recent weeks, Real Madrid scouting staff were present at AZ Alkmaar and Jong AZ matches in the Netherlands to observe Kees Smit. The visits form part of Madrid’s continuous tracking of top European prospects, with AZ’s academy pipeline a known hotspot after successful sales in recent years. Rival clubs from Spain and England have also checked in. Internal reports highlight Smit’s positional awareness, press resistance and vertical passing as standout traits. AZ are open to structured deals for elite prospects, typically protecting value with add-ons and resale clauses.

🚨 JUST IN: Real Madrid, along other clubs, are keeping an eye on Kees Smit. Scouts from the club have been present in recent matches to watch him. @MatteMoretto

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

Madrid’s interest in Kees Smit lands at the perfect moment for a club managing succession in midfield without breaking its wage structure. With Toni Kroos retired and Luka Modric now used more selectively, Madrid are doubling down on multi-functional interiors who can dictate tempo, receive under pressure and accelerate play between the thirds. Smit’s profile ticks those boxes. He is comfortable receiving on the half-turn, plays with his head up, and his first touch sets his passing lanes early. The data Madrid value most for young midfielders - successful progressive passes, pressing escapes, and low turnover rate in Zone 14 - all trend in the right direction for Smit across his minutes for AZ and Jong AZ.

Tactically, Smit projects as an interior 8 in a 4-3-3 or a balanced 6-8 hybrid in Madrid’s asymmetrical 4-3-1-2. He would complement the ball-carrying gravity of Jude Bellingham and the ball-winning of Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni by adding a clean, vertical passing option who keeps sequences flowing. From a market perspective, AZ are proven negotiators but pragmatic. The Reijnders precedent shows they sell at the right number with add-ons for development. For Madrid, this looks like a low-risk, high-upside investment that can be staged over time without immediate pressure to start.

Reaction

Fan reaction has split into two camps. The optimists are loud: one calls for Madrid to sign him now because he is too talented, another says following him on tracking apps suggests this would not be a bad signing. There is also that familiar Madrid effect - once the club start watching, the player’s trajectory tends to spike. You feel the excitement in the replies, with supporters convinced the club’s scouts rarely waste trips.

Then the cautious notes: a Dutch fan argues Smit is not ready and should play two or three full seasons at AZ before stepping up. Some want established stars instead - Barella gets a shout, which reflects the usual big-name bias. There are also playful jabs about rival allegiances and the age factor. One comment even proposes selling Tchouameni and Valverde, which tells you how transfer discourse swings wildly after a single scouting report.

Overall the mood is positive but pragmatic. Madrid fans respect AZ’s academy and admit that polishing in Alkmaar for a season or two might be best. The consensus lands here: secure the talent early, then manage his growth smartly.

Social reactions

He is not ready yet. I have watched enough Eredivisie because I'm Dutch. But he should first play 2-3 years at AZ consistently before making a step

MagicalModric (@MagicalModric00)

Whoever comes to this team, if players with lobby power, media backing and sponsors can ignore the coach and even get him sacked, nothing good will ever come from this club. Look at Arda — he can’t even play in his real No.10 because of Bellingham

A.Kunz4002 (@Alexkunz9084)

#ViniciusOut #ViniciusOut

suggest me a good unknown movie (@Rrcr114)

Prediction

Two realistic scenarios are on the table. First, Madrid secure an early agreement with AZ for 2025, potentially including performance-based add-ons and a loan-back so Smit plays consistent Eredivisie minutes next season. This mirrors how the club handled other teenage arrivals, balancing development with controlled exposure. It also suits AZ financially and competitively, while giving Madrid priority over rival bidders.

Second, Madrid push for a purchase and immediate integration via a development pathway that could involve Castilla training blocks and targeted cup minutes, then a strategic La Liga loan in 2026 to a possession-oriented side. Given the current depth, Madrid do not need Smit to start right away. That reduces risk and keeps the fee in a rational band.

Projected fee framework: low fixed sum with meaningful add-ons, likely in the mid teens to high teens in millions if the market heats up. Timing points to early summer 2025 when AZ can restructure their midfield and Madrid can map preseason integration. If the scouting cadence continues, expect concrete talks to move quickly after season-end reviews.

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Conclusion

This is the kind of deal Madrid win because they act before the room gets crowded. Smit fits the club’s modern brief - technical security, press resistance, vertical passing, and a personality that does not rush the game. I watched him live this season and the poise is real. You can build patterns around a midfielder like that without forcing him to be a star on day one.

AZ will protect their asset, but their track record says sensible structures are possible. Madrid, for their part, are better than anyone at creating a runway for elite youngsters to grow. Secure the agreement, keep his development stable in Alkmaar for a year, then integrate him with clarity. It is smart squad management and a clean fit with Ancelotti’s evolving midfield. Everything about this feels aligned - the timing, the role, the pathway. Expect Madrid to press the accelerator.