What Martin Odegaard wants from Real Madrid as Arsenal circle

Real Madrid attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard spent the last half-season on loan at Arsenal, as he wanted regular minutes as opposed to waiting for an opening with Los Blancos. As time has passed, the narrative has shifted from how Zinedine Zidane was too cautious with Odegaard to one of concern, as fans are wondering whether or not Odegaard wants to stay.

Arsenal remain in the picture for Odegaard, ready to pounce with an offer if they see an opening to acquire the exciting playmaker, who once had LaLiga on strings in the first half of the 2019-2020 season as Real Sociedad’s orchestrator.

According to a report from MadridistaReal, Martin Odegaard still has doubts about his Real Madrid future and wants a few things to be satisfied in order to commit to the Royal White club.

Odegaard would like to experience a regular role with the club and minutes. He wants to be an important player for Los Blancos next season and a consistent member of the starting XI. MadridistaReal assures readers that Odegaard wants to shine at Real, but he isn’t sure he will be given the chance to.

Martin Odegaard won’t be able to walk into Real Madrid’s XI

What complicates Odegaard’s situation is that this is Real Madrid. You don’t just get to waltz into the starting midfield and start every game unless you earn that right. And earning that right takes years. Casemiro, Toni Kroos, and Luka Modric are established world-class players. How can Odegaard say he is ready to start over Modric, for example?

Looking at the lineup, Odegaard has opportunities, but moreso in other positions. He could be a right-sided center midfielder in a 4-3-3, but when Carlo Ancelotti uses a No. 10 or wants an inverted playmaker on the right-hand side of a three-man front, then Odegaard could be the preferred option to start.

Isco, Modric, Fede Valverde, and a few other players are threats to take minutes off Odegaard, though the Norwegian could force a shift if he can prove a better starter on the right wing than Marco Asensio.

Odegaard does have an opportunity to be a key part of Real Madrid, but it is up to him to both seize that opportunity and to compete hard in order to get that place. Furthermore, he needs to temper his expectations. Being a role player for Real is tough in and of itself, and it is arguably a better opportunity than being a regular starter at a club competing outside of any European competition in Arsenal.

At the end of the day, it is up to what Odegaard values, and maybe these doubts are exaggerated. Maybe they are normal doubts a young player has when they have high expectations for themselves and are worried about meeting them. But it feels like it would be a grave mistake for Odegaard to misread his chances and throw away his Real Madrid future for Mikel Arteta.