Kees Smit voices transfer frustration as Real Madrid and Barcelona links fail to progress

Netherlands midfielder Kees Smit says he is disappointed with how his summer has unfolded, admitting uncertainty over his future at AZ Alkmaar despite long-standing interest from several of Europe’s biggest clubs.

The 20-year-old, who has been closely monitored by Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea over the past season, revealed that none of that attention has yet translated into a formal bid.

Speaking to ESPN Netherlands, Smit said: “I expected more than this at this stage. The truth is that I don’t know where I will play. There is a chance I will leave, and there is also a chance I will stay, and that’s the situation right now. There is nothing more I can add about this.”

Smit has entrusted his future to high-profile agent Jorge Mendes, but AZ Alkmaar’s valuation – with the Dutch club seeking €70m to sell – has so far blocked any serious negotiations.

World Cup omission adds to frustration

The midfielder admitted that recent months have not gone as he had hoped, with his omission from the Netherlands squad for the World Cup a major personal setback.

Being left out of the tournament denied Smit the opportunity to showcase himself on what he regards as the most important stage of the year – a platform he believed could have propelled him towards a bigger move in his career.

Dutch media reports suggest that several elite clubs, including Real Madrid, have moved on to other midfield targets, opting to reinforce their squads with different profiles instead of pushing for Smit this summer.

Other major European sides that tracked him during the season are understood to have held back from making offers, influenced both by AZ Alkmaar’s asking price and the fact that Smit did not feature at the World Cup.

Open to staying but eyeing move abroad

Despite his disappointment, Smit insists he is not ruling out remaining at AZ Alkmaar for at least one more campaign.

The player stressed that while he is still considering a transfer away from the Eredivisie side, he has not closed the door on continuing his development in Alkmaar if no suitable move materialises.

Meanwhile, Dutch reports indicate that PSV Eindhoven are maintaining an interest in the midfielder. However, Smit is believed to be holding out for what he regards as a major offer from outside the Netherlands.

His long-term ambition, according to those reports, is to establish himself at a club abroad and build a successful career away from the Eredivisie, with a move this summer initially seen as a potential springboard before events took a different turn.

For now, with the transfer window progressing and no agreement in place, Smit remains in limbo – waiting to see whether one of Europe’s leading clubs will finally test AZ Alkmaar’s resolve, or whether he will spend at least another season in Dutch football.