Martin Odegaard pinpointed stability and continuity as the key factors behind his decision to quit Real Madrid and sign for Arsenal.
Martin Odegaard made headlines on Saturday after scoring a brilliant free-kick to earn Arsenal all three points against a tough Burnley. It was the Norwegian’s first real contribution this season and he looks set to play a key role under Mikel Arteta for the Gunners.
Late in the summer, Odegaard completed a reported £30 million move from Real Madrid after spending the latter half of last season on loan with the north Londoners. His performances since January convinced Arteta of his qualities and made him a priority signing.
Initially, Odegaard wanted to continue his career at Real Madrid. He even played regularly during pre-season games, but the club failed to register him for the opening La Liga encounter, complicating matters for the player. Moreover, Carlo Ancelotti could not give the Norwegian any assurances over regular game time during the season, which convinced him to move elsewhere.
As soon as Odegaard became available, Arsenal quickly found an agreement with Real Madrid to sign him permanently. The move was hailed by many as the Gunners signed a player,l they very much needed to fill a creative void in the team.
Odegaard’s free-kick was on point ?
(via @Arsenal) pic.twitter.com/m497MqKduZ
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 19, 2021
Odegaard has explained his decision-making behind the move to Arsenal and explained the reasons for leaving the pastures of Real Madrid. The midfielder pinpointed stability and continuity as key factors behind his motivation to depart and move to north London.
Odegaard said, “I liked the project, the coach, the club. I want to be part of the team, rebuilding this club and bringing it back to the top. It is very important that young players get stability and continuity; I have been looking for it a lot in the last two years.”
“I have signed a long contract, and I hope to stay for many years. It is fantastic to have a stable relationship with your own club.”
The attacking midfielder perfectly fits the mould of players the Gunners targetted during the summer. He certainly has a long-term future at the club, and Arteta will be key to developing him further along with the other young stars at the club. Will Odegaard prove to be a success at Arsenal?
