Real Madrid withdraw from pursuit of midfield prodigy who admires Barcelona – report

Real Madrid have been closely monitoring the progress of AZ Alkmaar midfield prodigy Kees Smit over the past few months.

At Valdebebas, the 19-year-old Dutchman was seriously considered as a candidate to strengthen the midfield department last summer. But Dani Ceballos’ continuity in Xabi Alonso’s squad meant that the transfer was abandoned.

Nevertheless, Real Madrid chief scout Juni Calafat had maintained steady contact with the player’s camp, as the club continued to monitor Smit as a target for future transfer windows.

Real Madrid pull out of race

However, now, according to Defensa Central, Real Madrid have struck Smit off their list of targets after the Dutch midfielder made his preference for Barcelona clear.

In an interview during the recent international break, the 19-year-old midfielder acknowledged that he was a fan of the Blaugrana.

Real Madrid end pursuit of Kees Smit. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

“Before it was De Bruyne and now it’s Pedri (laughs). Or Frenkie de Jong. I watch almost all of Barcelona’s games. It’s simply my favourite club,” he said.

Smit’s words have not gone down well in Valdebebas, where, as mentioned previously, the club had maintained steady contact with him and his entourage for months.

Inside the club offices, the reaction has been one of disappointment and a sense of being misled.

Within Real Madrid, there is also the view that the youngster must have known that such comments would harm any chance of a move to the Santiago Bernabeu, yet he made them anyway.

As such, the Spanish giants have decided to drop Smit from their list of targets. From now on, Calafat will focus on other profiles while the Dutch prodigy fades from the club’s plans.