The output of Martin Odegaard in January he disrupted the plans for Zidane. The Frenchman, who asked that the Madrid He re-caught him in the summer of last year, he saw him go on loan to Arsenal in January due to the lack of opportunities. The coach was left without the player who, in theory, should be the main alternative to Kroos Y Modric, Taking into account that Valverde It is another style of footballer and that has stopped having Isco.
With perspective, it is clear that Odegaard would have been very important in this final stretch of the campaign. Zidane is being forced to squeeze the German and the Croatian: between the two they add 6,128 minutes of play (2,923 ’Kroos and 3,205 Modric). Both are on the edge physically, with ongoing muscle aches. With the Norwegian in the squad, the dosage of minutes would have been easier, even more so considering the problems in the form of injury that Valverde is also having. This is why Zizou he asked for patience when he asked the club for a loan last winter market. Finally, the player, who needed to feel important, pushed until he was released.
His little prominence during the beginning of the season is justified from two points. The first is the difficulty of adapting to the demands of a large team and to Zidane's style of play, very different from the one he practiced in the Real Society. The second is the conversion to a position further away from the midfielder, the most natural for him. In Madrid he had to take a step back both in attack and defense, helping to get the ball out and defending closer to the defensive line.
Despite what happened, at the club they count on Odegaard as a fundamental piece in the project in the short, medium and long term. They continue to think that the Norwegian will end up being one of the best in the world and consider him one of the footballers who will be an alternative to the so-called old guard of Zidane. So, They don't even want to hear offers for him next summer. They understand the complicated situation that he experienced during his first months in the team and they considered his desire to play as something positive. Therefore, next year he will return and will have a new opportunity to show that his place is Madrid.