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Real Madrid: Grading the loanees at October break

By Kevin Parvizi

Achraf Hakimi of Borussia Dortmund (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
Achraf Hakimi of Borussia Dortmund (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid loanee Martin Odegaard
Real Sociedad’s Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard (R) vies with Atletico Madrid’s midfielder Saul Niguez during the Spanish league football match Real Sociedad against Club Atletico de Madrid at The Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian on September 14, 2019. (Photo by ANDER GILLENEA / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANDER GILLENEA/AFP/Getty Images) /

Real Sociedad AM Martin Odegaard

Martin Odegaard has Real Sociedad in position to play European football next season, as the club are fifth in the table and have their star center attacking midfielder to thank.

No player has created more chances in La Liga than Odegaard, who has provided some truly special moments of magic in the final third. The vision Odegaard has is incredible for such a young player, and he’s taken yet another huge leap in his development after posting a strong breakout campaign on loan at Vitesse last season.

Real Madrid will likely wait until 2021-2022 – when Odegaard’s current loan spell at Sociedad officially ends – to reap the benefits of having such a talented player on their books, but the wait is worth it. The strides Odegaard is making this season are incredible, and he looks like the total package as an attacking midfielder.

There’s a reason why he was named Sociedad’s best player in August and the overall best player in La Liga for September. He is a special talent.

Grade: A+

Arsenal CM Dani Ceballos

There have been a few “downs” for Dani Ceballos early in his loan spell at Arsenal, since he can hurt himself by trying to accomplish too much on the ball. But overall, you have to say that this has been a highly successful loan spell thus far for all parties involved.

In Ceballos, Arsenal have received a real catalyst for their attack, as he is consistently a bright spot in midfield for the Gunners. Meanwhile, Real Madrid are benefiting by seeing that Ceballos is indeed as good as advertised and can be a regular starter for Los Blancos one day. Of course, Ceballos has benefited the most, receiving regular playing time at a top club. He’s enjoying his football, and it shows.

Ceballos has already emerged as one of the most creative players in the Premier League. He can wear a variety of hats, having succeeded in a deeper playmaking role and a traditional attacking midfield role. Either would help Real Madrid greatly in the future, especially if they cannot sign Christian Eriksen or decide that the immediate upgrade is not worth even a mere 20-30 million euros.

Grade: B+

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