If reports are to be believed, Arsenal will soon be adding much-needed creativity to their midfielder with the signing of Martin Odegaard on loan from Real Madrid.
It’s easy to forget that Odegaard is only 22 years old, considering he originally appeared almost six years ago.
We’ve taken a closer look at his journey so far.
Make a name
Before becoming a huge talking point in major European football, Odegaard first gained attention in his native Norway after breaking through at childhood club Stromsgodset.
He made his debut in April 2014 while still in compulsory education, denying him the opportunity to train during the day with his club – aged 15 and 118 days, he became the youngest debutant de Tippeligaen and the rest to this day.
If they’re good enough, they’re old enough, as the old saying goes, and his precocious talent was such that he made regular appearances in Norway’s top flight before his 16th birthday.
“Being the goalscorer himself or the best passer is the essence of Odegaard’s game,” read a first Norwegian scout report that year (via Scan Scout).
“He’s the maestro and architect of attacking play and he creates and scores goals at all levels in an impressive way. His quick wit allows him to quickly learn from mistakes such as losing the ball in tight areas and avoiding psychic battles when they are avoidable.
Odegaard scored five goals in 25 appearances as Stromsgodset finished a respectable fourth place at the 2014 Tippeligaen, and he was building a reputation as the country’s most prominent young talent since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Arrival in Madrid
Still a long way from being able to buy a pint, Odegaard was linked to major European football clubs after his breakthrough in Norway. He trained with Liverpool and Bayern Munich and visited Arsenal as well, but Real Madrid won the race for his signing in January 2015.
He might have been talented enough to start regularly in Norway, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side were the reigning European champions and were battling Barcelona for the La Liga title, so he had to be patient, pursuing his development for the Castilla reserve – led by Zinedine Zidane.
The teenage prodigy made his Los Blancos debut on a final day at home against Getafe, played by Ballon d’Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo on time. The Portuguese icon had already scored a hat-trick in the first half, with the score 5-3 when Odegaard was introduced, and Los Blancos ultimately won 7-3.
Martin Odegaard: “I really wanted to make my debut. It was the last game of the season. They told me before the game that I would play the last 30 minutes of the game…and I came on for Cristiano Ronaldo! It was a very special moment.” pic.twitter.com/aKfnudaIA0
— TeamCRonaldo (@TeamCRonaldo) January 15, 2019
Start-up problems in the Spanish capital
A lack of first-team opportunities appeared to hamper the youngster, with reports in the Spanish press suggesting he thought he was too good for the reservists.
“On three occasions, Castilla’s coaching staff called meetings with the player and his parents to explain the situation and advise him to attend Castilla’s training sessions more regularly,” AS reported in April 2015.
“Yet neither Odegaard nor his father seem to realize that changing course and following the advice given to them on board is the right thing to do as the teenager’s progress with Castilla is an essential part of his own. development.
“Unfortunately, some players have complained that the teenager ‘can’t be bothered’ with his Castilla teammates and doesn’t want to be alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Odegaard didn’t have the chance to make a second La Liga appearance in his second full season with the club, with Rafael Benitez in charge of the senior setup following Ancelotti’s sacking.
Even after Benitez’s sacking, with Zidane being promoted to first-team manager, no further first-team opportunities were to come in 2015-16.
Developing away from the spotlight
Still, there are all arguments that keeping Odegaard humble and out of the spotlight was the best move for his long-term development.
He was not yet 18, but played a starring role as the reservists dominated third-place Segunda B in 2015-16, with 34 out of 38 games.
There was now a clear path to the senior squad, and he could take inspiration from Sergio Busquets and Pedro, who had won the Segunda B play-offs under Pep Guardiola for Barcelona B squad a few years before.
A senior first start finally arrived in November 2016, playing 90 minutes in a 6-1 Copa del Rey win over Cultural Leonesa. But with Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric excelling as midfielder three in the first team, there was no vacancy to fill, so an 18-month loan to Heerenveen followed.
Going under the radar of the small Dutch team, he has fallen down Norway’s pecking order from senior to under-21, but playing regular football at a high-level intermediate level may have been what was best for. him in the long run.
Continued improvement of the Eredivisie
After 18 months of constant presence in the Netherlands, Odegaard had the opportunity to take a step forward in the summer of 2018. Vitesse had a void to fill in his midfield after Chelsea starlet Mason Mount went join Frank Lampard in Derby.
With former Russia and Hull City coach Leonid Slutsky at the helm, there was a shrewd and interesting manager to work with, and a decent squad – including Chelsea trio Charly Musonda, Jake Clarke-Salter and Eduardo – around him.
Odegaard went on to be one of the Eredivisie’s player of the season, scoring nine goals and registering 12 more assists. Only Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech created more chances on average.
Realizing your potential in La Liga
The Norwegian had now performed at a level where he was clearly ready to be tested regularly at the highest level, so another loan, a two-year deal with a young and dynamic Real Sociedad team led by Imanol Alguacil, was an upcoming one. natural step.
And he continued to seize the opportunities that presented themselves, appearing exceptional as La Real exceeded his weight to fight for Champions League qualification.
They were doing this with Odegaard as the creative hub of the team, regularly demonstrating impressive technical abilities – dare we say it, Zidane-esque – from the center of the park.
Guardian’s Spanish football columnist Sid Lowe was so impressed in the first weeks of the season that he was dropped after a particularly brilliant assist from Mikel Oyarzabal to open the scoring in a 3-0 victory over Alaves.
“It was outrageously good from Odegaard,” Lowe tweeted. “Weft. What a player! Real case to say he is the best in La Liga so far this season. Brilliant. “
Again biding his time
There was an argument that Odegaard was gone a bit after the lockdown, but he had shown more than enough during his time at Anoeta for Madrid to stop the two-year loan and bring him back a year earlier.
Finally, five and a half years after his arrival, there seemed to be a place for him at his parent club. And he had a few chances in the first weeks of the season – three La Liga starts, two in the Champions League – but he gradually faded into the background.
Kroos and in particular Modric continue to defy time as undisputed starters in midfield, while even when needed inspiration off the bench during a fall in form mid-season, Zidane has remained reluctant to appeal to him.
It’s frustrating to see Odegaard suffer a setback as he began to realize his potential as a superstar, but Madrid’s loss will be a win for Arsenal.
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