Real Madrid Transfers: 5 crucial moves to make in summer 2021

Have a plan for Martin Odegaard

Real Madrid cannot repeat the same mistake. Last summer, they did not make any signings, but Zinedine Zidane did call up Martin Odegaard and brought him into the first-team squad for the 2020-2021 season instead of sending him out on loan for another year at Real Sociedad.

But Odegaard only played 233 minutes in La Liga. Months into his hyped return to Madrid, he was sent back on loan again. Frustrated with the lack of minutes he received under Zinedine Zidane, who was perhaps protective of his lingering knee injury, the Norwegian pushed his way into a loan to Arsenal. And he has flourished since then, showing glimpses of that “La Real” form.

Odegaard has shown at both Real Sociedad and Arsenal that he is capable of being a star player for Real Madrid. He was one of the best players in La Liga last season and is, as of right now, easily the top player in Mikel Arteta’s XI.

Real cannot risk losing Odegaard permanently, nor should they loan him for another year. They need to find a way to take advantage of his line-breaking passes and sweet left foot. Whether that means starting as a No. 10 or in a right wing role, Los Blancos need to create space for Odegaard in the XI. They will forever regret it if they let Odegaard slip away. Any regret over losing Marcos Llorente to Atletico Madrid will pale in comparison to this.