Former Denmark international and Real Madrid player, Michael Laudrup, has warned Norwegian starlet Martin Odegaard against a Real Madrid move.
16-year old Martin Odegaard is hot property right now with all the big clubs including Manchester United, Barcelona, Dutch champions Ajax and Bayern Munich chasing after the starlet. However, it seems that the Norwegian is set to join Real Madrid having toured the club and attended the Madrid derby which Real Madrid lost to Atletico last week.
Speculation is rife that the youngster will be a Real Madrid player soon with suggestion that a four million euro deal has already been agreed. The Norwegian press even went as far as reporting Odegaard will be handed a first-team squad place and the No. 16 shirt.
Michael Laudrup, a former Real Madrid and Barcelona player, expressed that the youngster would be better off playing in the Dutch league in the development stage of his career.
“I am not sure that the decision [Odegaard] has taken is the correct one,” the former Madrid and Barca player said. “He is 16, I cannot imagine that at this moment he could play for Madrid or Bayern. If he were my son, I would just send him to Holland.”
Martin Odegaard made history when he made an appearance in a European Championship qualifier at the age of 15 years and 300 days last year, representing Norway, to become the youngest player to play in the tournament.
Odegaard has since then shown a lot of promise and has attracted interest for various big clubs across Europe. The teen sensation has reportedly come closest to joining Real Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo also speaking words of praise for the midfielder.
“Good player,” Ronaldo said. “I see a lot of potential in the player. Good left foot.”
If Odegaard does join Real Madrid, it will be very tough for the youngster to break into their first team squad. Real Madrid has a history of signing big players instead of giving the home-grown talents a chance. Odegaard will have to fight off great competition and prove himself to be extremely special in order to be a Real Madrid regular. Till then, he would have to ply his trade under Zinedine Zidane in the Castilla.
Martin Odegaarda s contract with Stromsgodset comes to an end in June. If the player does not move in the January window, the club will have to let him go for free at the end of the season.