Real Madrid’s long-term planning for life beyond its current midfield core is well underway, and new information from AS has shed light on the names being seriously considered at the Santiago Bernabéu.
While several established stars across Europe are admired, it is AZ Alkmaar’s Kees Smit who has quietly risen to the top of the club’s internal list.
According to the report, Madrid’s recruitment department has evaluated a number of high-profile midfielders as part of its succession planning.
These include Paris Saint-Germain’s Vitinha, Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández, Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.
All four are highly regarded for their technical quality, intelligence and ability to influence games at the highest level.
Real Madrid are ready to invest to strengthen their midfield
However, while these players represent proven elite-level options, Real Madrid are increasingly focused on identifying the next generation midfielder before his value explodes.
This is where Kees Smit comes in. The 19-year-old first caught the attention of Madrid scouts during the 2022-23 UEFA Youth League, where his composure, positional awareness and ability to dictate the tempo stood out against elite academy opposition.
Since then, Smit’s development at AZ Alkmaar has only reinforced Madrid’s belief that he could become a future cornerstone of the midfield.
Internally he is seen as a modern central midfielder, comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, capable of progressing in the game vertically and tactically mature beyond his age.
Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde are already part of Real Madrid’s midfield but as they have done before, they are planning their next midfield general.
Real Madrid’s interest does not mean a move is imminent. AS note that there will be fierce competition for Smit’s signature, with several Premier League and Bundesliga clubs also closely monitoring his progress.
Kees Smit is the player firmly on their radar
AZ Alkmaar, renowned for developing and selling top young talent, is under no immediate pressure to sell and is expected to demand a significant fee if approaches arrive.
Financially, Madrid see Smit as a more strategic investment compared to the astronomical sums needed to eliminate players like Fernández or Mac Allister.
While these established stars remain admired, their price tags and contract situations make them much more complex deals.
For now, Real Madrid continue to closely monitor Smit’s progress, collecting data and live scouting reports as part of a long-term plan rather than a short-term solution.
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