Real Madrid midfield target breaks silence on rumours – ‘I did see my name popping up…’ | OneFootball

Following the appointment of Xabi Alonso as the new manager, there has been a renewed focus on youth development at Real Madrid.

During the summer transfer window, the club notably bagged talents such as Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras and Franco Mastantuono.

That trend is expected to continue, with Real Madrid notably keeping close tabs on Dutch midfield sensation Kees Smit.

A central midfielder by trade, Smit is being widely regarded as the next big talent to come out of Dutch football, with the 19-year-old already becoming a regular for his club AZ Alkmaar.

Smit’s early success has led to speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Kees Smit on Real Madrid interest

In a recent interview (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Smit himself admitted that he had seen his name linked to clubs such as Barcelona and Real Madrid following his breakout tournament.

Xabi Alonso will be keeping a close eye on Kees Smit. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

“I played reasonably well. I did well, I scored a lot of goals. That definitely helped attract attention. I did see my name popping up a lot on social media back then. I was supposed to be in the sights of Real Madrid and Barcelona. That made me proud,” he said.

Smit was talking about his performances in the last UEFA Euro U-19 Championship, where he emerged as one of the top performers with four goals.

The midfielder’s four goals at the tournament came against Germany, Norway, England, and Romania, with his decisive contributions earning him both the MVP and Golden Boot awards.

This season, he has continued his steady rise at AZ, already clocking nine appearances in all competitions and two assists, further establishing himself as a player with maturity beyond his years.

As the season continues, Real Madrid are sure to keep an eye on the Dutchman, with Xabi Alonso, in particular, being a key admirer of the youngster.