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Martin Odegaard: Arsenal sign Real Madrid midfielder on loan

Last updated on .From the section Arsenalcomments738

Martin Odegaard
Martin Odegaard moved to Real Madrid from Stromsgodset in 2015

Arsenal have signed Real Madrid attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard on loan until the end of the season.

The 22-year-old Norwegian has struggled to make an impact in Real manager Zinedine Zidane's squad this season.

Real Sociedad, where Odegaard spent last season on loan, and Eredivisie leaders Ajax were also interested.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: "Martin is of course a player we all know very well. Although still young, he has been playing at the top level for a while."

Arteta said Odegaard will "provide us with quality offensive options" and the Norway international could feature on Saturday in the Premier League against Manchester United (17:30 GMT kick-off).

Speaking about Arteta, Odegaard said: "He seems like a top manager and I liked his ideas, the way he sees football and also the way he is. He gave me a great feeling and that was important for me to come here. He was crucial.

"I think it's a club that really suits me well."

Arsenal technical director Edu said the club had brought in an "exceptional talent".

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague said Real Madrid blocked Odegaard going back to Sociedad because they wanted him to move to the Premier League club.

His arrival at Emirates Stadium comes after the departure of playmaker Mesut Ozil to Fenerbahce.

Odegaard joined Real Madrid from Stromsgodset in January 2015 and has played nine times for Real this season.

After returning to the Bernabeu in the summer following his Sociedad loan, it seemed he might become a first-team regular at Real Madrid under Zidane, who coached him in the B team when he first joined the club.

But after starting the first two La Liga games of the season, he has featured only once from the outset of a league game since - on 21 November.

Martin Odegaard: The rise, fall and return of Real Madrid's 'Norwegian Messi'

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738 comments

  • Comment posted by TomCat, at 12:03 26 Jan 2021

    He was quality on Football Manager 2015 to be fair...

    • Reply posted by OA, at 12:59 26 Jan 2021

      OA replied:
      He is top class in 2021 as well. Playing him behind Haaland & Mbappe with Camavinga in CM in a 4-3-1-2. Destroying teams. 😁😁😁

  • Comment posted by footiefan81, at 16:40 26 Jan 2021

    Odegaard is symbolic of a problem in football. A young player, labelled the next big thing after playing for his country at 16. Hoover up by a big club on the chance he becomes a world class talent, then not played and farmed out on successive loans. The players and their agents need to take responsibility too. Go somewhere you're going to play regularly like Haaland at Dortmund.

    • Reply posted by Gunner-Idiot, at 16:44 26 Jan 2021

      Gunner-Idiot replied:
      Couldn’t agree more. So many young player bought joy because their wanted but because they don’t want someone else to have them in case they turn out great. The number of loans these days on these players is crazy. Don’t get me wrong I think the loan system has its place but definitely abused by the big rich clubs. Chelsea a prime example!

  • Comment posted by The Buzzmeister, at 11:31 26 Jan 2021

    In the circumstances, this is the best move Arsenal could make at the moment. ESR is an emerging talent but must share the burden of responsibility and Odegaard is the right man. In the summer when more players have moved on Arsenal can then make an informed decision about a permanent deal of Odegaard or someone similar.

    • Reply posted by Chiffy, at 11:51 26 Jan 2021

      Chiffy replied:
      If Ode performs well he stays at Madrid, this loan is a waste. Give ESR all the game time he needs, there's no guarantee how far Arsenal will make it in the EL. Arteta obviously sees the PL as a priority, see the team he put out against Southampton in the Cup. Beyond the first team the players that have come in haven't been up to pace already. If Arsenal go out of the EL early ESR is benched

  • Comment posted by The Muffin Man, at 11:35 26 Jan 2021

    Was a wunderkind, not getting the game time. Seems a smart move.

    Arsenal need a creative midfielder in order to get Auba & Lacazette firing.

    Sharp business and will be fun to see him in the prem.

    • Reply posted by ajackson, at 22:22 26 Jan 2021

      ajackson replied:
      Arsenal becoming the place where big clubs send their hot prospects to get game time in a competitive league. How the mighty have fallen.

  • Comment posted by Lonster, at 12:10 26 Jan 2021

    Moral of the story? Don't go to Real Madrid if you're a very good young player, you'll only be farmed out on loan. Have to question Arsenal's plan here, no option to buy and then what?

    • Reply posted by antonya, at 12:13 26 Jan 2021

      antonya replied:
      we get a useful squad addition for the remainder of the season and then have the summer to re-evaluate the squad. It's not complex.

  • Comment posted by spanners, at 13:44 26 Jan 2021

    And this is why Zidane will be sacked in the summer. He keeps picking the [much] older established players. All their good young players are not being picked and end up going on loan or sold.

    • Reply posted by Joe King, at 14:08 26 Jan 2021

      Joe King replied:
      Maybe the young players are not good enough ?

  • Comment posted by Irons45, at 15:34 26 Jan 2021

    Why are fans being so negative about a youngster before he has even had a chance to kick a ball in this country.

    Too many just run people down at the drop of a hat.

    I hope he comes in and does well

    • Reply posted by Goonerbeall, at 22:29 26 Jan 2021

      Goonerbeall replied:
      Its jealous because it's not Man utd, Chelsea, City or Liverpool who gor the kid.

  • Comment posted by Dave73, at 12:43 27 Jan 2021

    Thank God it's not another Chelsea pensioner

    • Reply posted by iRoll, at 17:24 27 Jan 2021

      iRoll replied:
      Amen to that!

  • Comment posted by Carpenter, at 12:34 27 Jan 2021

    It is a loan move from the EU, so hopefully the Gunners won't need to pay extra when he is delivered.

    • Reply posted by Farslayer, at 14:53 27 Jan 2021

      Farslayer replied:
      Norway isn't in the EU, so hopefully we can avoid import taxes!

  • Comment posted by AFCMickey, at 11:51 26 Jan 2021

    Arteta's transfers schedule seems to be going to plan, Ozil(still don't understand it) & the others out & now new players in...Odegaard is a brilliant move, maybe another midfielder & Arsenal will have improved while other clubs' are standing still👻

    • Reply posted by Alex, at 12:17 26 Jan 2021

      Alex replied:
      arsenal improved and other clubs standing still? when you say standing still you mean all the clubs in mid/lower positions because lets be honest you're no longer one of the big boys and haven't been for years

  • Comment posted by Markyp1965, at 12:40 26 Jan 2021

    Has the potential to be a very good move for both the player and Arsenal, certainly in terms of being a short term fix. Just a shame that if Odegaard does really well, he’ll end up back at Madrid.
    This will take some of the pressure and expectations off of ESR, which has to be a good thing. Arteta needs to be able to bring the players in that he wants, even on loan and needs time to build.

  • Comment posted by DMT, at 16:26 26 Jan 2021

    As long as it doesn’t interfere in any way with the progress of ESR then I’m ok with it. Let’s hope it works well. Seems totally irrelevant whether you spend £72 million on a player, or sign someone on loan for 6 months as to whether you’re going to be pleased with what you get.

  • Comment posted by Not My Real Pseudonym, at 11:43 26 Jan 2021

    "Close" gets a comments thread?

    • Reply posted by TheNightmanCometh, at 14:29 26 Jan 2021

      TheNightmanCometh replied:
      It's basically confirmed, and they'll update the article accordingly when it is.

  • Comment posted by LionelRhodes, at 12:06 26 Jan 2021

    He's obviously a very talented youngster but I worry for the pace & physicality of the EPL compared to what he's used too. I hope he gets game time though & settles in quickly because this short loan might be made longer - another loan next season hopefully. If he takes to Arsenal & this league we could be onto a real gem here! Defo worth the punt.

  • Comment posted by kafka12, at 13:17 27 Jan 2021

    It is a correct approach that Arsenal making all arrangments for short term. Arteta amd Edu are clever to know that this season matter more than long term . Frank Lampard was not clever and more arrogant to think he had more time. There is a law that a PL club cannot borrow more a player on loan from an english team. But there is no law how many Arsenal can borrow from Real Madrid reserve team.

  • Comment posted by SR from EG, at 11:34 26 Jan 2021

    Only seen youtube clips but is very reminisient of Ozil maybe a a bit quicker, but a good deal. Whether there's long term prospects of signing him we will have to see as Zindan could be going

    • Reply posted by Peter, at 18:13 27 Jan 2021

      Peter replied:
      He’s nothing like ozil

  • Comment posted by WheelsOnTheBusAreFallingOff, at 15:05 26 Jan 2021

    Get this over the line and this will have been a pretty solid window. ESR can't play every game so we need another #10, since playing Willian is like playing with ten men and Willock's not yet good enough. Odegaard's probably the best we can do at the moment.

    An extra left-back to back up Tierney would also be good, unless AMN can rediscover his form from the start of the season

    • Reply posted by Adder63, at 13:46 27 Jan 2021

      Adder63 replied:
      Willian hasn't quite clicked but wouldn't give up on him yet, look where Chelsea finished up last season playing him against where they are now

  • Comment posted by goonerforlife, at 15:55 27 Jan 2021

    We have a lack of depth and its not fair to elevate ESR to superstar level just yet. He's young and has had some injuries so makes sense to have another creative forward thinking midfielder to share the role. Lets see how he does.

  • Comment posted by TheDarkKnight, at 15:06 27 Jan 2021

    This is what happens to young lads who get signed by big wealthy clubs. They get left on the shelf. Look at Mbappe. £200 million and won nothing but the French league which is the equivalent of League 2.

    • Reply posted by MH, at 15:18 27 Jan 2021

      MH replied:
      And the World Cup

  • Comment posted by LKM, at 13:30 27 Jan 2021

    Can’t see half a season being remotely long enough for him to adapt to the PL’s physicality. He’s hoping ZZ will be gone by the time he gets back to Spain and can try and do something.

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