Odegaard: 'Leaving Real was the best decision'

According to Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, leaving Real Madrid has allowed him to develop more.

Odegaard joined Real Madrid in 2014, at the age of 15. He only played 11 games in his seven-year contract with the Spanish club, interspersed with seasons on loan at Heerenveen, Vitesse, Sociedad, and Arsenal. In 2021, Arsenal bought Odegaard outright for $35 million, and a year later, the Norwegian player became captain.

"Leaving Real was the best decision I ever made," Martin Odegaard told the Daily Mail on October 14. "I wanted to play more and continue to develop."

Odegaard (left) celebrates Arsenal's 1-0 win over Man City on October 8th. Photo: Arsenal

Odegaard is currently one of the world's leading attacking midfielders. Last season, he led Arsenal to second place in the Premier League, leading until matchday 33, before faltering due to a number of injuries and a lack of consistency compared to Manchester City.

This season, Odegaard and Arsenal have continued to improve. They beat Man City 4-1 on penalties in the FA Community Shield, and then won 1-0 in the eighth round of the Premier League. The Gunners and Tottenham are tied on 20 points, two points ahead of the defending champions.

Odegaard has played better since leaving, but he still considers his time with Real Madrid to be a positive period. The 24-year-old midfielder affirms that he learned a lot, matured, and had the opportunity to train with some of the world's top players. "Maybe the opportunity came too soon, but it was a great experience," Odegaard added. "If I hadn't gone to Real, I wouldn't have reached the level I am at today."

Odegaard also stated that playing only 11 games in seven years for Real was perfectly understandable. He considers Real the biggest club in the world and the pressure is always there, even without Cristiano Ronaldo or other superstars.

Odegaard is also the captain of the Norwegian national team. The 24-year-old midfielder and his teammates are currently third in Group A of the Euro 2024 qualifiers, with 10 points from six matches, behind Scotland and Spain. Norway still has a chance to secure one of the top two positions if they perform well against Spain and Scotland in their final two matches.

Thanh Quy (according to Daily Mail )

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