JUST A FEW months after completing his move to Real Madrid, it’s being suggested that Martin Odegaard’s Real Madrid dream has already turned sour.
Last January, the 16-year-old Norwegian player was arguably the most in-demand player of his age in the world, and joined Real Madrid for a fee reported to be in the vicinity of €4 million from Stromsgodset, ignoring interest from Man United and a host of other clubs in the process.
Nevertheless, the Spanish media is reporting that the youngster, who recently became the youngest player to start a European Championship qualifier for Norway after lining up against Croatia, has fallen out of favour with reserve team manager Zinedine Zidane, resulting in his demotion to the bench.
A report from Spanish paper AS gave further details on the problems of the youngster, who earns a reported £80,000-a-week in wages:
“Odegaard has refused to train with the reserves and only joins in with training sessions on the eve of the team’s games.
“That’s not enough to click with the other players, or allow everyone in the side the chance to get to know each other.
“The newcomer and his father seek refuge in the clause included his contract with Madrid which stipulates that the club must ensure that he trains with the senior squad five days a week.”
if you gave a 16year old 80k he would go mad never mind 80k every week…
Is anyone really surprised this has gone Pete Tong
I hope raheem sterling doesn’t read the 42!!!
He may be talented but at 16 he is still a kid then add 80k a week on top of that, what did they really expect.
Hang on a second. Everyone here is blaming the kid. Not his fault at all as far as i can see. In his contract it supposedly states he must train with senior squad. Nothing wrong with that. Seems he wants to improve as a player by training with the best. Shows ambition. What he earns has nothing to do with the story here. Good luck to the lad.
80k a week at 16? Are the insane? If he really is as good as they say he is, imagine what he’ll be demanding if he enters the first team. Madness.
he will end up on loan at Celtic himself and the manager had a great relationship I believe.
Freddy Adu 2.0
Freddy Adieu.
If that report is the case…Good God. 16 years old and on 80k a week. Shut up and do as you are told. What a spoiled brat.
It’s a professional sport and he has a professional contract. Age shouldn’t be the issue here. It sounds like Madrid are the ones not adhering to the agreement.
I think at Real it takes more than skill to succeed. A young man coming to a club full of large egos would need to be very strong mentality and be able to adapt to the club – because Madrid won’t change to suit him. They have soar out better and more experienced players in the past and look as if they’re going to do the same with Bale at moment.
He grew up as a Liverpool supporter prob should’ve followed his allegiance. The likes of Ajax and PSV are normally perfect for youngsters to get a good education and relatively easy path to the first team.
Real Madrid is a pressure cooker, I reckon no other club was willing to pay anywhere near 80k and his agent probably took a decision to get the money now just incase he doesn’t turn out to be a world beater.
He’s just doing what it says in his contract. Tough shit on Madrid, they properly sealed the deal on that clause. Fair play to him for sticking to the contract.
Not really colm, it’s ludicrous that he’s on that much money and demands to train with the senior squad 5 times a week……..that wouldn’t have happened if he went to Utd, he wouldn’t be on that much by any means and he would certainly be learning his trade with the under age and reserve teams rather then the first team.
Why shouldn’t he demand to train with the first team? That’s what his contract states and Real were happy to sign it
I’d be retiring when I got to 18, after 2years with 80K a week, happy feckin days lol