While it all seems a bit far fetched, Liverpool are being linked with a move to take Real Madrid youngster and known Reds supporter Odegaard in on loan as the Champions League winners look to get the wonder-kid some much needed first team experience and out of the hair — or lack thereof — of boss Zinedine Zidane.
Things, of course, are always crazy at the Santiago Bernabeu; reportedly incensed at not only his continuing “preferential treatment”, but also his mere presence during their pre-season tour of the United States, the Los Blancos manager is rumoured to have had a falling out with club supremo Florentino Perez over his insistence on including the 17-year in the senior squad. A regular overachiever for Real’s second string Castilla squad, but still well short of being able to compete for a spot at the top level, a spell away from the Spanish capital looks certain for Odegaard — though just where he’ll end up isn’t an easy answer.
Having trained with the Reds as well as the likes of both Manchester clubs and German giants Bayern Munich en-route to choosing the Spanish juggernauts as his final destination, a lot of top sides have been able to see just what the 17-year old is capable of, but at the same time there’d only be a few that would be able to assure him the kind of game time a player of his age and considerable talent needs to keep their development on track. With a wealth of attacking options at his his disposal, it’s unlikely he’d find that under Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp — and he definitely won’t find it under former Real manager Carlo Ancelotti.
“When Florentino buys a Norwegian footballer, you simply have to accept it,” said the now Bayern boss when asked about Odegaard. “Furthermore, the president decided that he would play three games with the first team as a public relations exercise. He could be the best player in the world, but I don’t care because he was not a player who I asked for,” added the Italian, leaving no question about how he felt when the youngster was thrust in to his team. “That signing was to do with PR.”
