Norwegian starlet coming of age in San Sebastian
Martin Odegaard
R
eports of Martin
Odegaard’s demise
have been greatly
exaggerated. The
one-time teenage
wonderkid has been
a revelation for Real
Sociedad in the early weeks of this
season and was named September’s
player of the month in La Liga.
His goals and assists while on loan
from Real Madrid helped to propel
La Real up to fifth in the table before
October’s international break. HeHeadliners
produced a standout performance in
a 2-0 victory over Atletico Madrid, as
well as providing a brilliant pass for
Mikel Oyarzabal to score against Alaves.
It is almost five years since a 16-
year-old Odegaard was thrust into
the spotlight in Madrid, presented by
Emilio Butragueno at a packed press
conference after a triumphant Madrid
had seen off competition from across
Europe to sign him from Norwegian
side Stromsgodset.
Odegaard had sent tongues wagging
across the continent after making hiscompetitive debut for Stromsgodset
at the age of 15 years and 117 days,
and he first played for Norway’s senior
international side at 15 years and 253
days. Guided by his father, Hans Erik,
who would join the Madrid coaching staff
to help his son acclimatise to life in the
Spanish capital, Odegaard came to typify
the lengths to which Europe’s elite clubs
would go to sign burgeoning talent.
In May 2015 he became the youngest
player to represent Real Madrid when he
appeared as a 58th-minute substitute,
replacing Cristiano Ronaldo in the finalStandout...beating
Atletico Madrid