Outspoken PSG star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has told 16-year-Real Madrid starlet Martin Odegaard that he must grow up.
The 33 year old Swedish international faced Odegaard in a friendly between Sweden and Norway on Monday, and reckons it’s time for the 16-year-old to mature as a person.
Martin Odegaard’s father, Hans Erik Odegaard, joined Real Madrid as a youth team coach as part of the deal which saw the young Norwegian agree to join Real Madrid in January over Liverpool FC, the club he supports.
Speaking to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Ibrahimovic advised Odegaard:
“It’s not easy (to fulfill potential), but he has a father that controls everything completely.”
“First he must grow up and become a man and then get rid of his father.”
Ibrahimovic might not be impressed by Odegaard’s father but had words of praise for the Real Madrid youngster: “He did well, played straightforward and didn’t lose many balls.”
“He has a long time to get even better. It’s good that he’s already playing for his country.”
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Odegaard being the youngest debutant in Real Madrid’s history at the age of 16 years and 157 days when he came on for the last game of the season against Getafe on May 23 as a 58th minute substitute for Cristiano Ronaldo, helping Madrid to a 7-3 home win.