Martin Odegaard faces judgement day at Real Madrid as loan move beckons

Martin Odegaard chose to join Real Madrid ahead of a host of elite clubs
The 16-year-old’s debut season with the Castilla B team was a disaster
Youngster is competing with James Rodriguez, Isco and Jese in first team
Norway international could find himself out on loan with Villarreal, Rayo Vallecano and Real Betis all possible destinations

Published:
00:46 GMT, 23 June 2015

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Updated:
03:07 GMT, 23 June 2015

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Martin Odegaard will wear the white Real Madrid shirt in his home country on August 9 when Real Madrid play their seventh pre-season friendly of the summer against Lavenger FK in Oslo. What he can be less sure about is where he will be playing when the season starts for real.

Nothing has been straightforward for the 16-year-old from Drammen since he moved to Madrid from Strømsgodset last January. He knows he is crucial to his country’s Euro 2016 campaign and it seems the Norwegian FA are taking full advantage of his global status filling his diary with publicity events this summer.

But while he is Norway’s star, he also knows at Real Madrid his introduction into the B-team last season was disastrous, coinciding as it did with their promotion push going completely off the rails. And while he will be flying out on Real Madrid’s summer tour on July 12 he knows that he is probably going to have to go out on loan next season when he comes back if he is to really kickstart his career in Spain.

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Martin Odegaard could find himself out on loan after failing to impress in his debut season at Real Madrid

The 16-year-old’s introduction into Real Madrid’s B team coincided with a downturn in their fortunes

Odegaard looks on from the bench as Zinedine Zidane watches over Real’s Castilla

Norway’s youngest ever international looks dejected during a goalless Euro qualifier against Azerbaijan

He is at the biggest club in the world and all he wants to do is play football but for now he has no idea where and how he is going to do that.

Rafa Benitez will use Real Madrid’s tour of China, Australia and Germany to have a look at the Norwegian who will not be 17 next December.

Real have a friendly against Roma on July 18 in Melbourne and play Manchester City on July 24. On July 27 they play Inter Milan in Guangzhou at the start of the China leg of the tour, and then against Milan in Shanghai on July 30. They will then contest the Audi Cup in Munich on August 4 and 5 against Tottenham, Milan and Bayern Munich. Then comes that game in Oslo.

He will definitely start the game against Lavenger FK but these are all games in which Odegaard could play a big part in. James Rodriguez will still be recovering from the Copa America so he could get minutes playing in the new 4-2-3-1 Benitez formation which Ronaldo is expected to head up at centre-forward in front of Gareth Bale and two other attacking midfielders.

The 16-year-old poses with the famous white shirt after choosing Real Madrid over a host of suitors in January

Odegaard celebrates scoring a goal for Stromsgodset in Norway’s First Division before his move

New Real boss Rafa Benitez (left) will run the rule over the Norwegian during their lengthy pre-season tour

Odegaard replaced Cristiano Ronaldo to make his first team debut against Getafe in the season’s final game

He could be one of those two remaining midfield attackers and there are those at the club – including president Florentino Perez – who believe it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he could play for the first team this coming season.

Diego Maradona and Pele both debuted at 15 so why not make Odegaard a regular at 16 goes their logic. He has already made his debut playing 33 minutes in the last game of last season.

But even with a possible vacancy in the team at attacking right-midfield, competition will be tough with Rodriguez, Isco, and Jese to compete with. Former Real Madrid starlet and now Real Sociedad midfielder Sergio Canales can serve as a warning to Odegaard.

James Rodriguez’s exertions at the Copa America could lead to an opportunity for Odegaard

Isco (left) and Jese (right) stand in the way of Odegaard’s elevation to the Los Blancos’ first team

Odegaard chases after the world’s most expensive player Gareth Bale during a training session

He featured in Jose Mourinho’s pre-season preparations back in 2010 but once the serious stuff started the teenager found his opportunities limited. He picked up an injury and never got back in the team.

Playing in front of 100,000 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will be a fantastic experience, as will following in David Beckham’s footsteps and lapping up the fan worship Madrid will experience in China. But it’s experience of a different sort that he really needs. He has to be playing every week.

There is no shortage of takers with Villarreal the favourites because they play attractive football, because European competition means they have the sort of fixture marathon that requires a big squad, and because Madrid are happy with how things worked out for the last promising youngster they sent them.

Sergio Canales (right) was highly rated in Madrid before an injury saw him sold to Real Sociedad

Villarreal have brought on Real winger Denis Cheryshev (left) on loan and he is now a target for Liverpool

Denis Cheryshev did well under Villarreal coach Marcelino and is now destined for a big move to Liverpool if Raheem Sterling moves on.

But Villarreal is not the only possible destination. There is a chance that as Villarreal push for trophies next season Marcelino will favour more experienced players, Rayo Vallecano would offer an even greater assurance of weekly involvement and he would not have to move away from Madrid.

Paco Jemez is Spanish football’s biggest risk taker so a 16-year-old starter in his team each week is unlikely to give him any sleepless nights. Rayo have a hole to fill too with the departure of another former Real Madrid youngster Alberto Bueno to Porto.

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has advised the youngster to ditch his dad as his agent

And if Villarreal and Rayo don’t fit the bill and he wants to take Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s somewhat harsh advice (about ditching his dad, who also acts as his agent and his tennis partner after training) then Betis could be the move that best suits him.

Moving down to Andalusia on his own where the passionate support – 50,000 watched Betis win promotion from division two last season – would give him a crash course in growing up. Betis’ coach Pepe Mel will look after him and Betis, like Villareal and Rayo, play the sort of attacking football that will bring the best out of him.

It will be a tough decision and perhaps most importantly – he needs to be the one to decide. Picking the club he wants to move to, earning a place in their starting XI, and having a brilliant season will be his first step on the road to making it at Real Madrid.

WHAT NEXT FOR MARTIN ODEGAARD?

VILLARREAL

Pros

European football. Their playing style would suit. Good relations between Madrid and Villarreal.

Cons

A club going for trophies on all fronts could be reluctant to gamble on a 16-year-old in big games.

RAYO VALLECANO

Pros

He stays in Madrid. All-out attacking football will suit him. He will play every week.

Cons

Small club in Madrid might still feel in the shadow of the giant he has joined. Not really a clean break for a year.

Risk taking Rayo Vallecano coach Paco Jemez is more likely to give Odegaard a chance in La Liga

REAL BETIS

Pros

Good football at a well coached and well supported club. Could be a real growing up season.

Cons

50,000 punters will only be a plus if it goes well. Pressure will be on if it doesn’t.

STAYING AT MADRID

Pros

It would certainly keep the president happy. He would play fewer full games but perhaps at 16 he doesn’t need the slog of a playing every minute of a long season.

Cons

A massive step up and what if he does just end up watching from the bench?