Real Madrid and Barcelona interest confirmed as Netherlands youngster says he's eager to prove he can live up to the hype

AZ midfielder Smit has confirmed to NH Nieuws that both Real Madrid and Barcelona have shown interest in him following his standout performances for club and country. The 19-year-old scored two goals and provided an assist in a recent friendly against Almere City and admitted that he is motivated to prove himself in the upcoming season.

Smit, who was part of the Netherlands’ U-19 European Championship-winning squad this summer, is currently under contract in Alkmaar until June 2028. Despite reported interest from La Liga giants, the midfielder insists he is focused on improving his Eredivisie output.

Smit has made 43 appearances across all competitions in the 2024-25 season, recording 10 goals and seven assists. He scored eight times in the Eerste Divisie, Dutch football's second tier, before breaking into the first team, where he featured 18 times. He also played in the Europa League and domestic cup fixtures.

Smit admits he hasn't shown enough in the Eredivisie yet and intends to do better, he said: "I think the potential is there, but in terms of goals and assists, it hasn't been great yet. I could have had a few. This year will be different, but I have to start playing."

Speaking on the interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona, he added: "Those are great things. The two biggest clubs in the world, I think. I thought it was nice to see and read about.

"I just want to show here that I can do it. The interest from Barca and Real is nice, but of course, you don't know if I'll play. I'm not really distracted by it."

AZ face Gent in their next pre-season fixture as Smit continues to fight for a regular starting role. The club remains focused on developing him internally, while interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona will likely be monitored over the next transfer windows. The player remains grounded, stating his desire to prove himself before considering a major move.