Kees Smit: The Dutch Midfielder Manchester United Must Sign
Rio Ferdinand has seen enough. In his eyes, Kees Smit isn’t just another promising Dutch midfielder; he’s a player Manchester United “must” bring to Old Trafford, whatever it takes.
The 20-year-old AZ Alkmaar talent only made his debut for the Netherlands last month, yet he already looks to be approaching the end of his time in Alkmaar. After AZ’s 4-0 win over Sparta Prague in the Conference League, Smit openly admitted he is weighing up a move.
“Basically, I want to play a lot; that’s important to me. I could stay at AZ, but I don’t think that’s going to happen,” he told Ziggo Sport. It was the kind of honest admission that usually signals the start of a transfer tug of war.
Ferdinand, for one, has made his stance clear. On his podcast, Rio Ferdinand Presents, the former United defender launched into an unprompted eulogy for the youngster.
“Kees Smit is the real deal, I’m telling you,” he said. “He’s the kind of player where you think: I’d sign him right now, even if he might not be quite ready for the first team just yet. I hope he breaks through and takes the world by storm. And if we have to wait six months or a year for him, I don’t mind at all, because we absolutely cannot let him go to another club.”
That is not the language of a casual recommendation. That is a club legend practically banging on the boardroom door.
Ferdinand hasn’t needed an exhaustive scouting dossier to be convinced. A handful of live viewings, some clips, a few conversations with trusted contacts in the Netherlands – that was enough.
“Kees Smit is a top player, believe me. That lad… I’ve seen him play a few times now and that was enough for me. I’ve seen the footage and… wow! I’ve also spoken to a few people in the Netherlands, friends of mine… He’s got the real deal,” Ferdinand insisted.
While the hype builds abroad, Smit’s reality remains rooted in AZ’s season. On Thursday he will line up again in the Conference League, this time in a quarter-final against Shakhtar Donetsk, with the spotlight burning a little brighter each week. Domestically, AZ sit sixth in the Eredivisie, three points behind Ajax, fighting for European places while trying to keep their brightest asset focused amid constant noise about his future.
That noise has only grown louder with reports that AZ are demanding around 60 million euros for their homegrown midfielder. The number has raised eyebrows across Europe – and with Smit himself.
“I understand that everyone is talking about it. The figures I’m hearing are absurd. I get that people disagree with it or think it’s a huge amount of money. I feel the same way myself,” he admitted.
It’s a striking comment from a 20-year-old: self-aware, slightly bemused by the market swirling around him, yet clear about his ambition to play more and climb higher.
For AZ, it is a familiar dilemma. For Manchester United, it’s a test. When a club legend is this adamant about a rising star, do they move decisively, or watch another talent slip into someone else’s colours?
