THE Odegaard conundrum

17 years ago, this prospect of a midfielder was born. Broke into the Stromgodset team at the tender age of 15, made his debut for the Norwegian senior team at the same age and became Tippeligaen’s youngest debutant and goal scorer. Won the Tippeligaen Young Player of the Year award in 2014. Not many sixteen year olds can boast of playing for a football club talk less of wearing the national team’s jersey. In fact, many at that age are at their parent’s homes playing video games with nothing to worry about.

It is not the case with Martin Odegaard, he has grown into a man at that very young teenage stage. What more does one require to be recognised as one of the hottest teenagers on the planet?

It is not to be though; his progress has since stalled after his move to the Most Valuable Football club in the World, Real Madrid. There, he hasn’t been involved with the senior team as a mere single substitute appearance would point out, becoming the youngest player to grace the Santiago Bernabeu in the process after replacing Cristiano Ronaldo in a match. Before the preseason squad was announced, it was rumoured to have been a rift between head coach Zidane and club President Florentino Perez about the youngster’s inclusion in the preseason tourney, with the President stressing that there is a clause in his contract that highlights his involvement with the senior team.

At Real Madrid, World class players play, the best of the best there is; The Galacticos. So, with the presence of the likes of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Matteo Kovacic, James Rodriguez, Isco Alarcon ahead of him in the pecking order, he is still not going to get playing time anytime soon. A new gem called Marco Asensio has also wasted no time to endear himself to the gaffer to all but make opportunities hard to come by. The 20-year old Spanish sensation has already featured more than he must have bargained for this season. Why hasn’t he moved out of the Santiago Bernabeu on loan?

Although, he still has a future with the Blancos, a move that would surely benefit his career progress as under-something football is surely beneath him. He only features for the Castilla where it has also been said that he has attitude problem. A teenager  receiving a substantial amount inwages close to those of the regulars, one way or the other it will hurt his pairs and ego would set in. For a player that has already seen international football, playing with the Castilla is such a step backward. He was a regular in the Norwegian league before his move. Some say the move was motivated by money, his father says otherwise as the club doesn’t value their assets.

John Arne Riise once said he is up there with the best kids in the business, it is not far-fetched. “Martin Odegaard is one of the best 15-year olds in Europe.” He snubbed several interests from top club all over the World like Barcelona, Manchester United, Bayern Munich to mention but a few to join the Spanish giants. He needs to play regularly to realise his potential.

Martin was courted by several clubs during the just concluded transfer window, a loan move seemed viable but no deal materialised despite strong links with French side, Rennes. It was later confirmed that FIFA regulations was the stumbling block to all the negotiations as it stipulates that an U-18 player cannot move on loan to a foreign club and Real are already under the microscope for their irregular dealings of minors.

 Any coach would be happy to have him in his squad but Zidane’s hands are understandably tied. He is set to spend another season with the Castilla before attaining the age of majority. Next year could see him move away from the club in search of regular football because he won’t lack suitors.he is the one for the future because the future certainly looks bright for the Norwegian as he still has much of years in front of him to make his mark in the World of football and probably become the greatest midfielder of all time.

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