Martin Odegaard’s struggles at Real Madrid

DBasia.news – Martin Odegaard signed his contract with Real Madrid when he was 16 years old in 2015 amidst enormous expectations. He was one of the most sought-after young players in Europe at the time, but he had difficulty to impress in the Spanish capital. Odegaard was loaned out four times before joining Arsenal on a permanent basis in 2021 and has taken time to explain why he has struggled at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“I stopped playing with that signature spark of my game. I got too safe for a while. I was more worried about not making mistakes than actually playing my game,” Odegaard told the Players’ Tribune. “And my game has always been about making the difference. Playing a tough pass. I can understand why that is now. I was only a kid, but I’ve learned that you have to be ruthless. You can’t let yourself down. You have to show your true self on the pitch.”

Odegaard also spoke about the criticism he received from the media during his time at Real Madrid, adding: “After a few years, I haven’t made any progress. The media are after me for not living up to expectations. I am an easy target. If you really know me, you know I smile a lot, but I think on the outside sometimes my face looks grumpier than I really am. It makes it easier for them to write about how I’m struggling to adapt. I remember reading headlines like: ‘NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE IT OR BREAK IT FOR MARTIN ODEGAARD’ And I’m like, succees or fail? I’m 18 years old!”

The Norwegian player is now enjoying life at Arsenal and will take charge of the team again on Saturday (11/2) against Brentford in the Premier League at the Emirates.