Real Madrid: 3 young players who will thrive under Carlo Ancelotti

MARTIN ODEGAARD

Martin Odegaard was called back from Real Sociedad last season on the say-so of Zinedine Zidane, but the Norwegian ultimately left the club in frustration over a lack of playing time in the winter transfer window in January this year to join Arsenal on loan. He has been at the club since he was 16, but has failed to have a single full-season with the first-team despite showing huge potential.

Odegaard was a star at Real Sociedad in the 2019/20 season and also scored against Real Madrid in a Copa del Rey fixture. He proved his credentials even at Arsenal, thereby showing that he is capable of offering other midfielders at the Santiago Bernabeu a run for their money. He is exactly the kind of player which Ancelotti needs to make the most out of his free-flowing system.

Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are not the kind of players who score many goals, but Odegaard certainly is and can be used to his strengths by Ancelotti. The 22-year-old can be played in a free-roaming role and also be allowed the license to get into the box. Moreover, he can be deployed on the right-wing as well and play a role like James Rodriguez did under the boss at Everton as well.