Arsenal insider Charles Watts has delivered his verdict on the future of Martin Odegaard and a potential return to Arsenal.
The Norwegian international, valued at £36m on Transfermarkt, was one of the few bright sparks for Arsenal last season in what was an overall disappointing campaign, with some going so far as calling him their ‘missing piece’ as they looked to fill a creative void within the side.
Arsenal had hoped to keep him at the club beyond this summer, but it would appear as though those ambitions are going to fall short. Speaking in an interview with Norwegian outlet TV2 (via Eurosport) he claimed that he intended to try and fight for his place in the Real Madrid team for next season:
“Real Madrid have been clear that they would like me back. So then it will be time to go there when the training starts up again. Of course it has always been a dream to play there. I have been in the club for over six years now, and that has always been the goal.
Speaking on his show, Watts analysed the situation and seemed to believe that this news all but confirmed Arsenal’s opportunity to sign him may have gone, having previously held onto the slim hope the midfielder could’ve been convinced to return:
“It is appearing from the people you speak to at Arsenal, from what Martin Odegaard himself has said here, it’s beginning to feel more and more likely now that he will be staying at Real Madrid for the coming season, which will be a bit of a disappointment to Arsenal and certainly Mikel Arteta.
“They did want to get Odegaard back this season, they were hoping last season they’d done enough to convince him that this was a club for him to make the move to.
“But I think that Zinedine Zidane leaving certainly put a big sort of wedge in that door for Arsenal to try and get Odegaard through because it’s just always going to be the case when a new manager came in, they might want to have a proper, proper look at him.”
TIF Thoughts on Charles Watts’ comments on Martin Odegaard and Arsenal…
Does this news end the chase for Odegaard?
Yes
No
This comes across as a case that is out of Arsenal’s hands and there doesn’t seem like there could have been much more that they could have done in this situation, it’s just the way that the world works.
It is obviously a blow for Arsenal as they look to fill their creative hole, having already been beaten to the signing of Emiliano Buendía, so now they are going to have to keep looking elsewhere for that elusive creator.
Let’s hope they have more success when it comes to their next target.
In other news: ‘Top of my priority list’ – Charles Watts begs Arsenal to secure big in-house agreement