Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard breaks silence on frustrations at Real Madrid

Arsenal leader Martin Odegaard has opened up on his frustrations during his stay in Spain with La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid. The 25-year-old midfielder joined the Spanish club in 2015 when he was a 16-year-old, after transferring from Stromgodset. Despite the high expectations surrounding him, Odegaard struggled to find his place and establish himself at the Bernabeu.

During his time with Real Madrid, Odegaard was sent on loan to Heerenveen, Vitesse Arnhem, and Real Sociedad. In January 2021, Mikel Arteta brought him to Arsenal on loan, and six months later, the move was made permanent, marking a significant shift in his career. Reflecting on his experience at Real Madrid, Odegaard revealed that being constantly referred to as a rising star often caused him frustration.

Odegaard made these comments during a conversation with Ethan Nwaneri, who became Arsenal’s youngest-ever player when he debuted in 2022 at the age of 15. Speaking about the same, he said, “It was annoying. Everyone just saw me as the young kid and you just want to be looked at as a normal player. I think it’s normal as well when you play at such a young age, it comes with a bit more attention. But as soon as you get older, and get more minutes, I think people start to forget your age and see your quality. They don’t care too much about your age and that’s the main thing.”

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Odegaard has evolved into a key midfielder for Arsenal

Since arriving at Arsenal, Martin Odegaard has made significant progress, establishing himself as one of the team’s most influential players. Last season, he showcased his exceptional talent and leadership on the pitch, delivering an impressive performance with 11 goals and 11 assists across 48 appearances in all competitions.

His consistent contributions were vital to the strong Premier League campaign by Arsenal, where they came close to securing the title. The Gunners finished just two points behind Manchester City which highlights the narrow margin that separated them from the top spot.