Real Madrid may be about to find the perfect replacement for Luka Modric, the legendary to leave the team after more than a decade of attachment, with a young Dutch talent that is highly appreciated.
Luka Modric, 39, will officially break up with Real Madrid this summer when his contract is expired. Although not playing frequently in the last season, Modric's influence at the Bernabeu is still very large. The replacement of him is therefore a difficult task for the new coach Xabi Alonso.
However, the Spanish strategist seems to have found a name worthy to inherit Modric, which is the young midfielder Kees Smit of AZ Alkmaar.
According to AS (Spain), Real Madrid has accelerated pursuing Kees Smit, who has just been voted as the best player in the U19 Europe 2024, after helping the Netherlands U19 defeat the U19 Spain 1-0 in the final on June 26.
“I am very proud,” Smit shared with UEFA after receiving the award. “I could not believe it when I heard that I was voted as the best player in the tournament. This is a great title, and I would like to thank my teammates – they deserve to be recognized. I have a very high confidence. I want to score in every match, and fortunately it has been realized.”
Smit launched the first team AZ Alkmaar in November 2024, and had 18 appearances in the Dutch league in the 2024/25 season, contributing to the 5th target team. SMIT also tends to play higher than Modric, close to position 10 or attacking midfielder.
According to Tribal Football, the price to convince AZ to sell Smit can be about 25 million euros. Notably, Real Madrid will have to compete with the great rival Barca in this mission. However, according to AS, Smit loves Real Madrid and dreams of wearing the royal team.
Reciting Kees Smit may not cause fever like other blockbuster deals, but this may be one of the smartest and most important contracts in the summer of Real Madrid 2025. If developing in the right direction at the hands of coach Alonso, the 19 -year -old can completely become a new nucleus in the middle of the “White Vulture” in the next decade.
Currently, KEES Smit still has a contract with AZ until 2028.