He was already rumored to be the next super talent to simply be forgotten.
In January 2015, Real Madrid paid more than 4 million euros for the then 16-year-old Norwegian Martin Ødegaard. Until then, he only played in the domestic league for Strømsgodset, but he already belonged to the best players in the competition and even appeared in the senior national team.
He was wanted by all the big clubs and described as one of the most promising players in the world.
However, Ødegaard struggled in Madrid and never even got a proper chance. Instead, he went on loan: he was in two Dutch clubs (Heerenveene and Vitesse) and Real Sociedad.
In Real Madrid, he had a difficult path to the team, because Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić played in his position – and still play.
With Ødegaard, it was therefore speculated whether the big transfer to Madrid simply did not come too soon, and whether he killed his talent.
But now we know a clear answer. Today, Ødegaard is the captain of the London Arsenal. He is also one of the key players in the season when the team went far in the Champions League (to the quarter-finals) after a long time.
At the same time, Arsenal is still fighting for the championship title with Manchester City and Liverpool.
As he said in an interview with The Players’ Tribune, he has now found a real home at Arsenal.
Arsenal always knew how to use players like Ødegaard appropriately. Former coach Arsene Wenger would have liked him: that’s why he tried to get him at the turn of 2014 and 2015.
Wenger took him and his father to dinner and told him about the club, but the Ødegaards finally chose Real.
Last Christmas, Ødegaard met Wenger again when he came to watch the game against West Ham United.
They talked after him and Wenger said that he was worried about his career when he was no longer playing for Real.
He reigns in the half-spaces
However, he became a difference player at Arsenal. “I knew that the club was able to develop playmakers like Fabregas, Nasri, Özil: very intelligent, technical players who work well with the ball and handle difficult passes. That is, players like me,” he said.
Ødegaard is really like going back to
This article is exclusive content for Denník N subscribers.
Are you a subscriber? Log in