Martin Ødegaard

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I struggle to give too much of a shit about the lad. I don't think the move is as bad as some are suggesting, however. It's a little bit too early too suggest his career is somewhat doomed.
 
Very weird move if true. Thought Real would've come below Bayern, Barca, Ajax and us in the race.

Time will show, but gut feeling is telling me this is a mistake.
 
I thought we were close to get him. Oddly enough it seems that Real will get him. Not the best move imo if true. Still I believe he will make it. He will be one of the best in the world.
 
I don't know if this really was a stupid mistake like so many may be thinking. Odegaard has had a look at pretty much every big teams training facilities and trained with the first team for a few days at a lot of these clubs and probably talked to the managers as well. So he might be in a better position than any of to decide what's the right move for him and let's all not forget that Real Madrid has one of the top 5 youth setups in world football producing even more players that made it in professional football than Barca. The only thing I'm sceptical of is if he is going to get much first team football under Ancelotti. Him and Mou always looked like the least likely candidates to give such a young player a shot in the first team but than again it might be different for him and Ancelotti actually rates him highly enough to have promised him a chance at first team football.
 
It makes some sense, in that he can play for Madrid B and Zidane and get called up at times to play for Madrid, whose squad is small enough that he might even get some games there:

Ronaldo-Benzema-Bale
---James-----Isco-----
--------Kroos----------

is their front 6 right now and the only real subs are Modric (Injured), Jese (often injured), Chicharito and then 2 deeper mids in Khedira and Illaramendi, as well as some 20 year old named Alvaro Medran.

It really wouldn't be that hard for Ancelotti to give him 30 minutes off the bench fairly often, and at his age and size, maybe that's best?

He can always go on loan somewhere for a year or two at some point if he's too good for Madrid B and not good enough for Real Madrid. Lots of La Liga teams playing decent football who would presumably be ecstatic to get him.

And he might figure he can grow with Zidane and in 2-3 years they'll be Manager and Player at the big club.
 
I've got the feeling he'll go the way of Sergio Canales.
 
I don't know if this really was a stupid mistake like so many may be thinking. Odegaard has had a look at pretty much every big teams training facilities and trained with the first team for a few days at a lot of these clubs and probably talked to the managers as well. So he might be in a better position than any of to decide what's the right move for him and let's all not forget that Real Madrid has one of the top 5 youth setups in world football producing even more players that made it in professional football than Barca. The only thing I'm sceptical of is if he is going to get much first team football under Ancelotti. Him and Mou always looked like the least likely candidates to give such a young player a shot in the first team but than again it might be different for him and Ancelotti actually rates him highly enough to have promised him a chance at first team football.

Sorry but Castilla is nowhere near the quality of La Masia.

I will reserve the judgement until I really see him play for them.
 
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Sorry but Castilla is nowhere near the quality of La Masia.

I will reserve the judgement until I really see him play for them.
La Masia tends to get slightly overrated because of a golden generation, same applies to our academy. Madrid consistently produce very good players, albeit to fund their galactico policy. One of our best players is a Madrid academy player.
 
La Masia tends to get slightly overrated because of a golden generation, same applies to our academy. Madrid consistently produce very good players, albeit to fund their galactico policy. One of our best players is a Madrid academy player.

Who ?
 
'Slippy G is my favourite player and I was going to sign for Liverpool until he said he was leaving.'
 
It was Carlo's eyebrow that swayed him. That thing has a mind of its own.
 
La Masia tends to get slightly overrated because of a golden generation, same applies to our academy. Madrid consistently produce very good players, albeit to fund their galactico policy. One of our best players is a Madrid academy player.

I'm not saying Casilla is a bad academy, they are one of the best in Spain for sure but in terms of number of players featuring in Spain youth teams, number of graduates who went on to play in Top 5 league or number of top quality graduates,La Masia always get the edge.Barca B is much better than Real Madrid Castilla as well and that's already taking into account that Barca B has a useless manager (Eusebio).
 
I don't know if this really was a stupid mistake like so many may be thinking. Odegaard has had a look at pretty much every big teams training facilities and trained with the first team for a few days at a lot of these clubs and probably talked to the managers as well. So he might be in a better position than any of to decide what's the right move for him and let's all not forget that Real Madrid has one of the top 5 youth setups in world football producing even more players that made it in professional football than Barca. The only thing I'm sceptical of is if he is going to get much first team football under Ancelotti. Him and Mou always looked like the least likely candidates to give such a young player a shot in the first team but than again it might be different for him and Ancelotti actually rates him highly enough to have promised him a chance at first team football.

Give his quality, he should have picked a club with the right setup which would give him decent game time to go with it. At Real, he'l get feckall. Cant blame him too much though, Barca and Real are just on another level when it comes to pulling power.
 
I'm quite staggered that he chose Real over Bayern.

Why? He's not really any more likely to get into that Bayern team either. When it comes to pulling power, even the staunchest of Bayern fan would agree that Real and Barca are just on another level to any other club including Bayern.
 
Why? He's not really any more likely to get into that Bayern team either. When it comes to pulling power, even the staunchest of Bayern fan would agree that Real and Barca are just on another level to any other club including Bayern.
No, I mean they are both at a fairly similar standing, quality wise and I'm sure Bayern facilities are top notch. They also have Pep who is far less averse to inducting youth.
 
No, I mean they are both at a fairly similar standing, quality wise and I'm sure Bayern facilities are top notch. They also have Pep who is far less averse to inducting youth.

Real's pull is much greater than Bayern. Had Bayern been able to guarantee much more football, he might have chosen them. As things stand, with the players they have in attack, he wouldnt get a look in. Its no real surprise for me that he picked Real over Bayern.
 
Good luck to him. He obviously has confidence in his ability to break into their first team in the near future. Judging by the hype from all of Europe's top clubs, he is justifiably confident. Madrid's academy is quality and he'll get the same chance to develop as he would at any other top club. As for getting first team appearances, if he's that good, he'll get games.
 
I think that Madrid is the worst club for a kid of his age to go.

Ajax on the other hand would have been the best choice IMO. Great club with good training facilities and good coaches, not much pressure and a lot of gametime. Then on 3 years he could have gone to Madrid for a big sum of money.

Instead, he'll train in Madrid and then go on loan. What's Canales up these days?
 
Let's tap up some of Madrids kids. It's not like Madrid give a shit about them.
 
@NoWinNoFee Of the foreign players who came to United at 16 and had/have a chance of making it, I can think of; Rafael, Fabio, Januzaj, Macheda, Ronaldo (17), Petrucci, Pogba, Pereira.

Fist teamer, arguably could be a squad player, squad player and still a huge talent, questionable mentality - should have done better, arguably the world's best player, ruined by injuries, should have been given more chances (arguable given his performances) but would no doubt have been part of the team the following year, trained with first team and traveled with matchday squad 2 years ago - now getting cameos.

Ronaldo was 18 ;)
 
Just saw that if he gets number 16(as the romours say he will get) he cant play for the reserve team?
Players with number 1-25 appearantly cant do so in Spain.

If this is true, then either Real Madrid think he is good enough to play in the first time, as a sub mostly i think.
Or they will loan him out.
Or they will let him train with them and he wont get any matches at all, wich clearly is the worst option for him, and i am afraid for his development if it is so.
 
Apparently a place in the first time has to be part of the deal whichever team he signs for. If true, Madrid have given him their word that he will be playing. Can't see where a 16-year old kid will play for this Madrid side though. He might get the odd minute in dead-rubber games, nowhere near enough for someone that young. Personally, it's a bad decision for me but only time will tell.
 
This, most probably.

Agent must have given the lad some shit advice too (assuming agents play a big part in these deals).

The lad doesn't have an agent.

People are so eager to have a go, despite not bothering to check any basic facts, it's quite insane. Maybe the reports that he's getting the no 16 and that he'll see first team action and training are correct. If so, how is it such a bad move?

Anyway, it will be interesting to see if he does indeed wind up at Real. He'll learn loads there, no doubt.
 
The lad doesn't have an agent.

People are so eager to have a go, despite not bothering to check any basic facts, it's quite insane. Maybe the reports that he's getting the no 16 and that he'll see first team action and training are correct. If so, how is it such a bad move?

Anyway, it will be interesting to see if he does indeed wind up at Real. He'll learn loads there, no doubt.
If he doesn't hit the ground running, there's every chance he'll disappear from everyones radar for a substantial amount of time. Sergio Canales has been mentioned frequently in this thread as an example.
 
La Masia tends to get slightly overrated because of a golden generation, same applies to our academy. Madrid consistently produce very good players, albeit to fund their galactico policy. One of our best players is a Madrid academy player.

Who let they let go without giving him a chance in the first team.
 
For me it's the right choice, i already said it, Madrid, United, Bayern and Barcelona are good options they all take great care of their youth, and there is no pressure on him, now.
No one will expect anything from him, he will be able to take his time, if he is good enough, he will have a successful career, if not he will have avoided the media scrutiny that a lesser club gives, you.
Because it seems that no one thought about this but if he had signed for a club like Ajax, he would have been asked to perform right away, and if he wasn't ready, the all world would have called him a failure.

:lol: I've heard it all now!
 
:lol: I've heard it all now!

At la cantera they do, they are the third youth producers in europe behind Barcelona and Manchester United. (Players who play in the 5 best leagues)
 
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