€32 million player explains why he failed at Real Madrid
Real Madrid is arguably the toughest club in the world to succeed at. You are always as good as your last performance and there is the pressure to win every game and competition you play in. That is the weight that the Royal White jersey carries. Some thrive under that while others struggle.
Jude Bellingham, for example, appears to have raised his game since arriving at Real Madrid and already appears to be knocking at the door of superstardom. There are not many who can do that though.
Alvaro Odriozola is someone who failed to meet expectations during his time at Real Madrid. He was signed from Real Sociedad for a transfer fee around €32 million in the summer of 2021.
Over the next five years, he did not even make 50 appearances for Real Madrid. He also spent an average loan spell at Fiorentina and a forgettable one at Bayern Munich. This summer, he finally departed Santiago Bernabeu and returned to Real Sociedad, the club whose youth ranks he came up through and where he played his best football by far.
€32 million player explains why he failed at Real Madrid
As reported by MARCA, when asked about why he did not triumph at Real Madrid, Odriozola said:
"“It is a very peculiar club, a club surely in which you find the greatest competition than in any club in the world. Zidane, Lopetegi, Solari, Ancelotti, I have learned a lot, although the circumstances did not arise. But, although I did not it seems, it was a happy stage.”"
That is a classy message from Odriozola for sure. Even though he did not get too many chances at Real Madrid, it looks like he is appreciative of the time he spent at the club.
Right-back remains an area of worry for Real Madrid though. Dani Carvajal is not the player that he was in his prime, even though he remains the starter. There is no genuine cover for him either. Lucas Vazquez and Nacho are not natural right-backs, and both of them are past 30 years of age as well. It is actually surprising that Odriozola did not get more chances at the club.