AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit turned down a blockbuster move to Real Madrid to remain with the Eredivisie leaders this season. The 20-year-old academy product revealed this week that a conversation with head coach Lee-Roy Echteld was the deciding factor. Smit was a prominent name on the Spanish giant's shortlist as they searched for midfield reinforcements.
AZ Alkmaar currently sits perfectly at the top of the Eredivisie with fifteen points from five games. The team has scored sixteen goals and conceded just five, giving them a goal difference of plus-eleven. This strong start, which gives them a two-point lead over rivals PSV Eindhoven, was launched with a 4-0 victory in the Johan Cruyff Shield, a match where Smit played a starring role.
Kees Smit admitted he originally expected to leave the club during the summer transfer window. "To be honest, at first I had the feeling that I was going to leave, but then it turned out that the coach really wanted me to stay," the midfielder said. The turning point came ten days before the window closed. "Ten days ago I had a conversation and then AZ didn’t want to let me go anymore," he added. Smit took the decision positively because he feels his development in Alkmaar is not yet complete.
The player says he is happy at AZ and can cope quite well with transfer gossip. He initially read a lot of speculation but later reduced his engagement with it. Staying guarantees him regular first-team minutes under Echteld, which is essential for his growth. His strong performance in the season's curtain-raiser against PSV underlined the value he brings to the team.
Real Madrid was not the only club showing interest in Kees Smit this summer. Several top European sides had their eyes on the Dutch midfielder. The Madrid club was active in the market, signing Bernardo Silva and Sergio Martinez. Their primary target, however, was Rodri, who ultimately joined Barcelona. After that move fell through, Real compiled a shortlist, with Smit featuring prominently.
The transfer window has now firmly shut, giving Smit the space to focus entirely on AZ. He has already justified the club's faith in him with his performances in the opening weeks. If he maintains his form, elite suitors like Real Madrid are expected to return. His immediate task is to continue driving AZ's excellent league campaign.
AZ Alkmaar heads into the coming weeks with great confidence. The team sits firmly at the summit and is on a perfect winning run. The next challenge is a home fixture against Willem II on September 11th. Willem II currently sits 16th in the table, offering a chance to maintain the lead at the top. The full schedule can be found on our fixtures page.
Lee-Roy Echteld's squad is in excellent condition, and recent stats show a potent attacking team. Fans can follow the current standings to see how the title race develops. For Kees Smit, the real work starts now: performing in the Eredivisie and proving he is ready for a future step up, whenever that may come. His next opportunity to shine is on Friday night at the AFAS Stadion.
