Overview
- Arno Vermeulen, who spoke on Studio Voetbal on Monday, warned that Kees Smit could end his AZ contract for a few hundred thousand euros if the club demands too high a fee.
- His claim rests on the so-called Diarra ruling, which lets a player ask a national arbitration panel to set compensation when a club’s price blocks a move.
- Vermeulen said the KNVB arbitration committee could apply that standard, which might allow Smit to pay a nominal sum and then choose a new club.
- AZ managing director Merijn Zeeman pushed back on the TV show, saying a departing player would still owe AZ compensation and calling the issue a non-problem.
- Smit is under contract for roughly two more years, AZ has enlisted agent Jorge Mendes to seek a club-record sale, and elite teams such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and Manchester City are tracking him.