Arsenal blame Real Madrid over Odegaard

Carlo Garganese

• 6 Dec 2023 17:12 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsenal sporting director Edu has hit out at Martin Odegaard’s former club Real Madrid for failing to get the best out of the Norway star.

Odegaard failed to make the grade at Real Madrid after joining as a 15-year-old prodigy but he has developed into of the best players in the Premier League and beyond at Arsenal.

Edu has hinted that a lack of opportunities at Madrid was a reason why Odegaard didn’t shine there.

What did Edu say?

"There are players who work well on one [team] and poorly on another. It depends on good moments, opportunities," Edu told Marca.

"Our strategy is and was to sign young players, and he fitted [that profile]. He came on loan and then we decided to buy him. We had been following Martin for many years and perhaps we have had the patience that others have not. He is now one of our captains, enjoying himself, and one of the recognisable faces of our team."

Odegaard originally moved to Real Madrid from Stromsgodset in 2015 when he was just 15 years old and before he had his senior birthday he had already become Los Blancos’ youngest ever player.

Much was expected of the attacking midfielder after that moment, but the explosion that was expected of him never materialised in Spain.

Indeed, Odegaard would go on to play only 11 matches for Real Madrid over the course of his stay.

After several loan moves, some of which showed promise, he ultimately switched on a permanent basis to Arsenal in the summer of 2021 - having earlier spent six months on loan at the Emirates.

During 2021-22, Odegaard was impressive with seven goals and five assists before he really exploded in 2022-23 as he scored 15 goals and was crowned Arsenal’s Player of the Year.

He already has seven goals this time around as Arsenal currently top the Premier League.