‘Truly impressive’: Ronald Koeman see’s elements of Barcelona’s Pedri in AZ youngster | OneFootball

It’s fair to say that Oranje head coach Ronald Koeman is a big fan of AZ midfielder Kees Smit. The 19-ear-old is enjoying another strong season with AZ after breaking into the first team last season. Smit has now caught the eye of Koeman who has said, as reported by ESPN, that Smit is ‘on the list’ to go to the World Cup next summer.

Yet the national team head coach heaped more praise on Smit as he compared to him to 22-year-old Barcelona star Pedri. While Koeman was keen to point out he doesn’t think that Smit has reached the level of the Pedri just yet, the comparisons in his eyes are clear. Koeman said ‘I almost regret mentioning his name again (Pedri), but he’s a guy who plays in the same position. The way he turns away from his opponent, the way he scans the area, his two-footedness—I saw that in Pedri too. If he gets half his career, we’ll be very happy in the Netherlands’.

Last season Smit played 30 games for AZ across the Eredivisie, KNVB Cup and Europa League. Smit scored twice and grabbed two assists. He has already matched and surpassed these numbers in just 19 games so far this season. Smit has grabbed another two goals and provided four assists for AZ as they sit third in the Eredivisie.

Koeman’s Netherlands should be joining Pedri and Spain at the World Cup next summer. If they beat Poland they will be guaranteed of a spot at the finals, although avoiding defeat should be enough with Lithuania to come in their final game.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson