Interest in Young Talent: Meerdink and Smit Under Scrutiny by Major Clubs

Both Kees Smit and his teammate at AZ, Mexx Meerdink, are reportedly garnering interest from prestigious clubs like Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, as claimed by agent Guido Albers in an interview with Goedemorgen Eredivisie.

Albers stated, “I don’t need to mention any names. Currently, there is no interest because he is injured. The level he can achieve and the interest is significant, but everyone is waiting for his return.” This comment pertains to the young striker, who has been sidelined for an extended period, with his last appearance being on October 5, 2025. His aim is to make a comeback by February.

Earlier, Hugo Borst expressed concerns regarding Smit’s premature pursuit of a transfer to Europe, stating, “It is great for your CV, Max Huiberts (technical director), to close with a mega transfer, but it would be wise for this young man to remain in the Eredivisie for at least another year and a half. He should not leave in the summer. There are too many egos and other interests involved in making a large profit from this player. Huiberts is leaving and naturally, he would prefer to sell a player for sixty million euros. That’s how it works. However, I find it regrettable to push Smit into Europe at this stage. What happens then? He gets sold to Manchester City or Real Madrid. For such a sum, they will look at what he has achieved in the Netherlands, which is essentially nothing. He has not accomplished anything substantial. He has shown flashes of brilliance and we all see that he has talent, but he has yet to prove himself fully.”