Sort of backs up my point really. Despite his obvious talents Mata wasn't given a chance in the first team. If they had paid big money for him at the same age he probably would have been given more opportunities. That's how it works at Madrid.
Martin Ødegaard
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Sort of backs up my point really. Despite his obvious talents Mata wasn't given a chance in the first team. If they had paid big money for him at the same age he probably would have been given more opportunities. That's how it works at Madrid.
Why are you so defensive, because you're Norwegian? It's not really preposterous to say that Madrid was or is a huge risk for Odegaard to take, considering their recent history of developing youngsters, is it? I can't really see why people would be "eager to have a go" either. I actually don't think many care at the moment to be honest.
Best of luck to the lad. It's going to be very difficult, but if he is talented enough (he's immensely talented by all accounts, and some videos I've watched), he'll be alright - whether that is at Madrid or not, we'll have to wait to see.
I think Madrid would be a very bad choice for his career. I don't see Madrid as a developing club at all. Nor do I see them giving a chance for him in the first team. It would make much more sense to sign for a club like Ajax where he would be a starter already and who have a very good track record on developing talent. Then once he develops he could move to Madrid or wherever he wanted. Who is the last player Madrid developed from a wonderkid to a superstar? Varane?
Can't believe i forgot about them.
I'm not defensive, why would I be? I just find it interesting to rummage through this thread and constantly seeing people thinking he's a big time Charlie, that he's greedy, or that he's at the mercy of an agent's whims. The last one's most easily disproven, obviously, with him not even having an agent. But yeah, take a look through this thread and you'll see some strong negative things attributed to the lad, regarding his character and his prospects, based off very little. I just find that curious, is all.
And at age 16, if you're training with the Real Madrid first team, you'll learn a thing or two, even if he is restricted to a few cameos on the pitch. A huge risk is an overstatement. I never said it was a preposterous statement, I just said that I didn't think it was that big of a risk. His contract is also likely up before he's even reached 20, he won't exactly be a spent force by then, and he'll have grown as a player.
Can't believe i forgot about them.
I can't believe you mentioned VG as more reputable than Dagbladet.
Never heard of him. 20 pages on a 16 y/o though?! Bloody hell!
I was the one who made the agent comment - with really no intention of malice towards the kid or his attitude. It's just really quite normal to assume these deals involving the big clubs have agents involved - whether it be his dad or mum acting in that capacity.
I've not really once ever commented on anything other than his talent. Actually, I don't think I have more than 3-4 posts in this thread, including the 2 to you. It's my personal opinion that the Real choice isn't the smartest with a young, talented, up and coming footballer. But there's always the exception to "the norm", so he could very well make it there, or if he's talented enough, somewhere else. History probably shows it will end up being somewhere else.
But yeah, I don't have much to say about his character and I certainly don't hope or wish he disappears into a nothing footballer.
Real Madrid, on the face of it, probably isn't the wisest choice. But if he's good enough he'll give himself a chance at breaking into the first team fairly quickly, so who's to stop him trying when he got the opportunity?
Also, while De Boer publicly has stated that Ajax would give him the arena to develop propely in a first team squad, none of us know what deal has been proposed at Madrid or indeed any of the other clubs.
If it's true that he's getting the 16 then it means he won't play for the B team, so then it's obvious he'll be in and around the first team squad. From there it's up to the lad.
Also, while De Boer publicly has stated that Ajax would give him the arena to develop propely in a first team squad, none of us know what deal has been proposed at Madrid or indeed any of the other clubs.
If it's true that he's getting the 16 then it means he won't play for the B team, so then it's obvious he'll be in and around the first team squad. From there it's up to the lad.
What is a fair price for him today? Somewhere around £5m because he's a special talent?
Loaned out constantly until he's 21, I bet. Where then he will be surplus to requirements as Madrid have signed that fella who scored a goal in the World Cup.
This. But when it comes to football stuff, they might well be.
Stokstad's been bang on during the Ødegaard-saga.
As for Dagbladet being reputable - well that's a bit of a no go isn't it? Aftenposten is obviously more reputable than both but I'm not sure I agree that Dagbladet's more reputable than VG. Not at all.
More reputable with regards to diets and relationship advice, you know, the important stuff.
As opposed to Dagbladet, who's front page regularly consists entirely of excactly what you're alluding to there?
More reputable in terms of real journalism, I meant. They're better at uncovering important news stories, amidst all the tabloid lark which both have.
This is getting a bit off-topic though - on Ødegaard they've been bang on the money.
I am hearing from Norway that this is not a done deal. The plan to visit Madrid again was made last time they visit them. That time they were in Madrid only one day. If I recall this right, they only spent one day last time.
Edit: source is DT: Drammens Tidende. Its the local newspaper in Ødegaards hometown.
They are saying that his only there to train and see what Real Madrid can give him.
Edit: source is DT: Drammens Tidende. Its the local newspaper in Ødegaards hometown.
They are saying that his only there to train and see what Real Madrid can give him.
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By all accounts it is.
If he signs for Madrid then good luck to his career.
Not much. Some of the things i've seen mentioned about him are simply OTT and premature at this stage in his career. He's immensely talented, there's no doubt about that.
Assumptions. I've never been one to over hype youngsters and get overly excited before they make a single first team appearance in a top league. I've seen many wonderkids come and go
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I have a feeling this is possibly the last we hear of him, remember Robinho was a big talent before he went to madrid Canales is just starting to get his career on track at sociedad, really he should have gone to an arsenal, Southampton, ajax clubs who are great at bringing through youth talent and giving them tie in the first team.
Sorry, I was mocking Dagbladet there. They're the heaviest on health and love/sex, I feel. Entirely off topic though.
Like I said, they use their academy to fund their galactico policy, doesn't mean the players produced are any less talented.
If the most reputable means the most recognizable outside the country then VG definitely is the most reputable Norwegian newspaper.
Sky sources have said hes on the verge of signing for Real. Can't help but feel this kid has chosen madrid for the ££££. Yes its the biggest club arguably in the world, but he won't play for them for many seasons - will lose confidence due to not playing many matches. Probably being farmed out on loan to lesser teams who in turn don't play him as much or barely bring him on off the bench.
Why not choose a club that will idolise him in his early years and use them as a ladder to real later. Madness. Sincerley hope the opposite happens and he goes on to be a worlds great but Madrids history of bringing through youth players is pretty bad. Ramos, Casillas.... Erm
Why not choose a club that will idolise him in his early years and use them as a ladder to real later. Madness. Sincerley hope the opposite happens and he goes on to be a worlds great but Madrids history of bringing through youth players is pretty bad. Ramos, Casillas.... Erm
In fairness to him he has looked round seemingly most top clubs in Europe and is probably in a better position than anyone else to know which feels the best fit for him
Good luck to the kid whatever he decides
Looks talented but an injury in training and it could all be gone before he is 17 so I can't blame him if he takes any offer that can make him and his family secure for life regardless of any future success
Absolutely, but Aftenposten are far more serious.
So, no, I don't mean more recognisable. And yes, they're both trashy papers. I just find it weird that somebody considers VG more of a respectable paper. Pfft.
I know which comment you made, and I was taking them all in one big bunch, and it's clear that there's a number of people who are insisting that he's loving the publicity, or that he's looking for a pay-day, or that he's stupid and not taking into consideration his own development... All such comments seem a bit ludicrous when you have a more in-depth knowledge of the boy, his support, and so on, which of course is afforded to us Norwegians more than people from abroad.
I didn't mean to make a comment specific to you, and by all means, I don't mean to ascribe negativity or anything on your part. I was just referring to a trend, and that at least some percentage of the kind of comments you see along those lines can be attributed to someone rashly characterising the lad without knowing too much.
Anyway, I don't give too much of a toss about that stuff... Am excited about how this is going to go for the lad, though
Terrible decision as far as I'm concerned. Should've gone to a club where talents are actually given a fair chance to make it, but oh well, enjoy the bench/playing for Castilla.
Yeah, he seems immensely talentedI didn't mean to make a comment specific to you, and by all means, I don't mean to ascribe negativity or anything on your part. I was just referring to a trend, and that at least some percentage of the kind of comments you see along those lines can be attributed to someone rashly characterising the lad without knowing too much.
Anyway, I don't give too much of a toss about that stuff... Am excited about how this is going to go for the lad, though
Pity he didn't come to us Agreed. There's a ton of negativity, mostly unwarranted, towards his attitude. Most of the coverage his "trials" at all the big clubs received have been because of the media etc.
Any other Norwegian talents as big/bright as Martin?
To be honest a chance to play for Real Madrid at 16 is probably very difficult to turn down. It's all well to say that he should have gone to Ajax but he could be relegated to the bench even then and then find himself at 18 or 19 with little experience and virtually no chance to join a big club. Once you join a club like Real Madrid you'll have good clubs chasing you even if they decide to offload, so even if he has to take a step down after a few years it won't be to an obscure club. He's a footballer, an injury could ruin his career in a blink of an eye, good for him to profit from his talent early into his career.
This.
People are running him down for ruining his career and joining Madrid. WHAT? It's Real fecking Madrid the most famous team in the world and at 16 he has the offer to join them.
If he is good enough he will play for them, if he isn't he will still get a move to a good club. Either way it's a great move and good luck to him for having the balls to have a go.
If the reports about him getting the #16 jersey is true then he can't play for Castilla. They could obviously let him sit on the bench every match but I think this is a signal of intent from Real Madrid. And knowing him and his father (from the countless reports in Norway) they have been given assurances that Real Madrid are seeing him as a member of their senior squad. He might get more game time at Ajax but I do believe he will progress a lot at Real Madrid even if he won't play much the next couple of years. It's hard to tell if he will make it there but even if he gets a career like, let's say Mata or Eto'o, he will be regarded as Norway's best player ever.
Yeah, he seems immensely talented
Agreed. There's a ton of negativity, mostly unwarranted, towards his attitude. Most of the coverage his "trials" at all the big clubs received have been because of the media etc.
Any other Norwegian talents as big/bright as Martin?
No. It's safe to say that he's our biggest talent ever, or atleast in the modern era (last 30 years), hence the hoo-hah surrounding him. I've watched him live twice this season (both for the NT) and he's something special. Could very well be because everyone around is not at international standard, though.
I don't remember many players who have featured for Real Madrid at a young age and then went on to join poor teams and had below par careers unless they screwed it up themselves by being lazy and not developing. Usually even if you turn out to be not good enough you will end up playing for a good club later in your career (Mata, Soldado, Canales etc.).
Even someone like Glik who was only ever a Real Madrid C player for them and never even trained with their first team got education good enough that earned him a move to Torino where he's a captain currently. Admittedly he went there through Piast Gliwice but nevertheless the experience in Madrid was essential in moulding him to be the player he is.
Joining Ajax at this age is risky too. He could be benched there, he could spend the time on the bench and then end up moving to a Freiburg etc. You can never tell and if you get the chance to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world you should not be criticised for making the move.
I argued that Southampton would have been the best move for him for various reasons but going to Real Madrid is certainly not as foolish as plenty on here would have you believe.
Let's hope he kicks on and lives up to the potential.
We could eventually get agent Ole to snap him up!
It is rumored that it could be a bidding war and that Bayern Munich has made the first bid. If this is correct, we should join the bidding. I am sure we must have impressed the kid when he was visiting us. Also we had him on trial when he was younger.
Is it just me that hopes this guy turns into an utter failure? Barring he doesn't sign for us that is.
Sorry, misunderstood you. In that case I agree!
Why because/if he didnt sign for us you want him to fail?
Yeah, he seems immensely talented
Agreed. There's a ton of negativity, mostly unwarranted, towards his attitude. Most of the coverage his "trials" at all the big clubs received have been because of the media etc.
Any other Norwegian talents as big/bright as Martin?
No chance, he's entirely unique as far as Norway's talents are concerned. Dæhli made waves in our top division at 18, but I'd say that Ødegaard has toyed with players more than he tended to do, and that's not adjusting for the fact that he's 15.
If there are other talents like him that I don't know about, we're starting to look at a Noggy golden age. Things are already looking nice for us with Stefan Johansen, Dæhli, Ødegaard, and Nyland though.
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