Basque Derby and Waiting for Alvaro Odriozola’s Debut

DBasia.news – Thibaut Courtois was the only new recruit of Real Madrid this summer that has started his debut. Julen Loeptegui hasn’t sent the other recruits: Alvaro Odriozola, Andriy Lunin, Vinicius Junior, and Mariano Diaz in three initial matches of LaLiga.

Lunin was loaned to Leganes, Vinicius in Real Madrid Castilla (B) to develop their skill in adapting with Europe football, while Mariano is still waiting for the moment to play in his second period for Madrid.

Odriozola is the worst. The 22-year-old right defender was recruited from Real Sociedad with 35 million euro price tag. But he canceled to play his debut due to injury. Now, ahead of the match against Athletic Bilbao, Odriozola really wants to play his debut for El Real.

Born and grew up at San Sebastian, Basque on December 14, 1995, Odriozola considered Bilbao as his challenging rival. Even though he is still now supporting Madrid, he still has the Sociedad blood, his former club since the academy level.

“It would be special for me to make my debut on Saturday but in any stadium, it is the same with Real Madrid. Julen (Lopetegui) knows I am ready, that I have taken advantage of the international break and I am ready,” Odriozola said to Marca.

 

Thibaut Courtois

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“We are a family here and the adaption has been better than I thought, it is an incredible club. At Madrid, the competition is as high as it gets and I am mature enough to know that the only way to be successful is through work,” he emphasized.

It’s not an easy task for Odriozola to get the privilege to play regularly in Madrid squad compared to the time when he supported Sociedad. Madrid already have Dani Carvajal and Odriozola senior, Danio, who left for Manchester City last year due to the frustration for lack of playing time and competition with Carvajal.

The most realistic option for the player who has four caps and one goal for Spain national team is becoming apart of Madrid’s rotation system. Carvajal would still become the number one option for Madrid’s right defender. But when the club face a tight schedule, Odriozola will be on the pitch for particular matches.