Martin Odegaard Transfer Rumours: Latest News, Speculation on Stromsgodset Star

Rarely, if ever, has the future of a 16-year-old footballer commanded as many headlines as Stromsgodset talent Martin Odegaard.

Bayern Munich had prematurely been said to have won the race for his signature, but now it appears Real Madrid have beaten off the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Ajax and Barcelona to capture the teen sensation.

Continue for updates.

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Odegaard Madrid Terms Emerge

Monday, Jan.19

Odegaard's move to Madrid is on, according to Norwegian outlet Drammens Tidende. The Guardian provides the details, courtesy of Marcus Christenson:

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He is indeed joining Real Madrid. Local paper Drammens Tidende says that negotiations have started between the Spanish club and Strømsgodset and that Ødegaard has played his last game for the Norwegian club.

He will start training with the first team straight away.

Lots of detail in that Drammens Tidende report. Martin and his father, Hans Erik Ødegaard, will move to Madrid straight away and they have a villa there waiting for them. Hans Erik has been offered a job at Real and the 16-year-old is set to play games for the B team until the summer - unless he shows that he is so good that he can be involved in the first team squad on match days.

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Odegaard to Join Madrid 'Within Days'

Wednesday, Jan. 14

According to Jose Felix Diaz of Marca, Odegaard has made up his mind that Madrid will be his chosen club:

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Martin Ödegaard is about to join 'Los Blancos', at least that is the word from the Real Madrid camp a week after the player's visit when he spent time training with the first team.

Indeed, Real could be just days away from officially announcing that they have secured the hot property, sought by the most powerful clubs in European football, for the next six years.

Ödegaard returned to Norway delighted with the experience of his two-day stay in Madrid. The 16-year-old was bowled over by meeting the likes of Ronaldo, Kroos, Ramos and co. although it seems it was Florentino Pérez who was instrumental in convincing both the player and his father that Real Madrid are prepared to pull out all the stops to sign the young talent everybody wants in their team.

Ödegaard's father and agent have already been in touch with the 'Los Blancos' club to say they are ready to sign on the dotted line, thereby leaving Ajax and Bayern out in the cold.

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Ancelotti Coy on Young Star

Friday, Jan. 9

Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti insists Odegaard is yet to commit his future to the European champions. ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan provided the Italian's latest comments:

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Odegaard Fuels Madrid Rumours

Thursday, Jan. 8

According to Spanish publication AS, Odegaard already has his feet under the table at Real Madrid:

AS added more detail about Odegaard's session, and talked about his potential role at Madrid:

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The pearl of Norwegian football, Martin Odegaard, trained with Real Madrid’s first team at their Valdebebas training facility on Thursday after attending the Madrid derby at the Vicente Calderón on Wednesday night. Despite training with the first team, the Norwegian, 16, will be incorporated into Zinedine Zidane’s Castilla side if he signs for the European champions.

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Real Madrid Emerging as Front-Runner for Odegaard

Wednesday, Jan. 7

Peter Mason of The Guardian revealed Odegaard is likely to transfer to Real Madrid this window:

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The battle to sign up Norway’s 16-year-old footballing prodigy, Martin Odegaard, appears to have been won by Real Madrid.

Odegaard, who made his international debut for Norway aged 15, had been expected to move from the Tippeligaen side Stromsgodsetto Bayern Munich, but the Norwegian newspaper VG has reported that he will instead be heading for the Bernabéu, where he will become the first Norwegian to play for Real Madrid.

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Odegaard was spotted at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday evening, watching Real take on neighbours Atletico:

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Odegaard to Visit Manchester

Monday, Dec. 29

Manchester neighbours United and City will soon get their chance to lure Odegaard, after it was revealed by Norwegian outlet VG (h/t 101 Great Goals) that the two Premier League clubs are looming on the youngster's schedule:

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Norway’s VG are reporting that Ødegaard’s latest stop on his European club tour are visits to Old Trafford and the Etihad.

It’s not clear when exactly Ødegaard will turn up at Man United and City.

[...] According to VG, Ødegaard is expected back for pre-season training with Stromgodset on January 6th, however most believe the upstart will join one of Europe’s top teams in the upcoming January transfer window.

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Barcelona Reportedly Register Offer

Tuesday, Dec. 23

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have offered Odegaard the same terms that lured Alen Halilovic to the Camp Nou. Inside Spanish Football summarises the latest:

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The offer is much the same to that of Alen Halilovic, where he would spend one season with the Barcelona B squad before joining the first team.

Barcelona have already communicated their intentions to Odegaard’s current club Stromsgodset IF and hope to bring in the player at the end of their ban in January 2016 or sooner, should TAS rule against FIFA and reduce their ban.

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Madrid Unwilling to Rival Bayern Offer

Thursday, Dec. 18

According to Jose Felix Diaz of Marca, Madrid have been stunned by the financial offer made by Bayern to Odegaard, and are unwilling to match it. The youngster's future now comes down to whether he makes a footballing or money-driven decision:

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The Norwegian international, who turned 16 yesterday, has been offered a five-year contract and a salary that would make him the highest-paid youth player in the history of football, even topping some of the club's established players.

He would start his first contract year on 1 million euros, which would increase up to 2.5 million euros.

[...] No other team has come close to matching Bayern's offer, and as far as Real Madrid are concerned, they have no intention of entering a bidding war against the Munich-based outfit. Guardiola has tried to convince the young protégée in terms of football, but the money is the major carrot Bayern have dangled to try to tempt the player and his family.

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Odegaard's Dad Plays Down Bayern Talk

Wednesday, Dec. 17

Rare comment was offered by Odegaard's father, Hans Erik, on Wednesday, as expectations of an imminent deal with Bayern were doused.

It had been claimed that the young attacker would sign for Bayern on his 16th birthday (Dec. 17), but Odegaard Sr. stated the following to Norway's TV2 (h/t 101 Great Goals):

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No, we do not think [Martin will sign a contract today]. But this is to comment and talk about things we have chosen not to go into.

We have chosen not to say or contribute to any more attention, any more rumors and more noise. I have read that he has been ready to sign for 10 clubs. As far as I know his decision has not happened yet. 

I will not talk too much about our schedule ahead. But what I can say is that Martin is soon going on his Christmas break. 

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According to Marca, which has long been convinced that Odegaard would join Madrid, the youngster's dad contacted the club to delay his final decision. Jose Felix Diaz reports:

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Martin Odegaard has asked Real Madrid for more time to make a decision regarding his future.

The Norwegian has just celebrated his 16th birthday, the date on which the promising young player who has been dazzling with his performances this season had been scheduled to decide which of the many teams interested in signing him he would join, but no decision has been made and it has now been postponed until January.

The player's father contacted the club's board, with whom he has held several meetings to negotiate an extension for his son. He wants more time, to clear up any possible doubts he may have before making a decision.

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Bayern Reportedly Win Race for Odegaard

Tuesday, Dec. 16

Bayern Munich are alleged to have won the race to sign Martin Odegaard after a flurry of excitement saw the youngster linked with moves to some of Europe's biggest outfits this winter.

According to German outlet Sport1 (h/t 101 Great Goals), Odegaard will sign for the reigning Bundesliga champions on Wednesday, Dec. 17—the date of his 16th birthday:

101 Great Goals cites the German source in reporting the teenager will agree professional terms with Pep Guardiola's side. Club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge labels Odegaard "the talent of the century."

However, doubts have been raised over the legitimacy of the story, as noted by Marcus Christenson of the Guardian:

Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph reported more on Odegaard's time at Arsenal:

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Odegaard and his father travelled to London on Tuesday and the youngster took part in a training session at Arsenal’s London Colney complex before being given a tour of the facilities and the Emirates Stadium.

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The midfielder has already visited Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich, with the German club thought to be in pole position to land him.

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But Arsenal are now hoping that they may have persuaded Odegaard to reconsider his options, even though he is expected to visit more clubs with Manchester City, United, Barcelona and Ajax also keen.

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Bayern are just one of the clubs the Stromsgodset playmaker has trained with in recent weeks, as confirmed by the Daily Mirror's Ed Malyon:

Real Madrid and Arsenal are some of the other giants Odegaard has been linked with, as well as Liverpool, the club he's followed his father in supporting.

The 15-year-old trained at the Reds' Melwood ground in December and previously talked up a potential move to Anfield in November, per German newspaper Bild (h/t Press Association's Carl Markham, via Daily Mail):

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Liverpool have always been my dream club. But I will not let this affect my decision when I choose a new club. It's all about finding the team that is best for me and for my development. That is not necessarily Liverpool. 

I haven't really thought about my future yet. I will end the season here and then visit a number of clubs. I have not made a final decision yet, though. Of course, it's flattering when you hear that big clubs are after you, but I don't think about it too often.

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Despite his age, Odegaard is already a prominent figure in his native Norwegian Tippeligaen, having made 23 appearances this season, scoring five goals and notching six assists, per Transfermarkt.

Two of those goals came as part of a destructive performance in the 2-1 win over Lillestrom in October, a clear sign the starlet is already thriving among his more senior peers.

Odegaard made his debut for the Norwegian national team this year. The wonderkid since went on to become the youngest player ever to feature in European Championship football when he lined up against Bulgaria in an October qualifier, aged 15 years and 300 days.

Like several of those other suitors in the hunt for Odegaard, Bayern can offer a glittering future that's bound to include contention for major titles in the years to come.

However, while maintaining that presence in the Champions League and Bundesliga, Der FCB also place a strong priority on the promotion of youth, as does their helmsman Guardiola, formerly of Barcelona.

If reports prove accurate and Odegaard does sign at the Allianz Arena, Bayern will have sealed the signing of arguably the continent's most exciting prospect in advance of the January window.