Real Madrid Transfer News: Martin Odegaard Seeks Loan Move, Latest Rumours

Real Madrid’s teenage sensation Martin Odegaard will reportedly request to go on loan in the midseason transfer window, as he seeks to get regular first-team football at a competitive standard.

According to Jose Felix Diaz of Marca, the Norway international “wants a bigger piece of the action” and, while he is happy with Los Blancos, feels as though he needs top-level football.

It's noted by Diaz that Odegaard doesn’t want to play for Real’s B-team in the third tier as he feels as though the standard isn’t quite good enough. In addition, the 16-year-old, who made two appearances for the first team during pre-season, is said to be “disappointed” by the fact he is currently well down the pecking order when it comes to manager Rafael Benitez’s options.

Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert Guillem Balague also confirmed the youngster is looking at a temporary move away from the club:

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We have to be patient with him. He is still 16. Real Madrid want him to help the team as it is essential it is a competitive team that forces players to improve. 

Real want him to stay and start improving himself, with no goals scored yet this season, but he would like to move on on loan. Conversations should take place soon about it.

"

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

As we can see here courtesy of primillo7 (h/t BlancoEdition), Odegaard does seem to be a class above when it comes to the third tier:

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Incredible run from Martin Ødegaard to assist Mariano Diaz against Socuellamos yesterday. [via @primillo7] pic.twitter.com/wOrKqRxoSs

— BlancoEdition (@BlancoEdition) October 25, 2015"

There are few who would have expected him to have burst into the Real first team immediately, though. The youngster is absurdly talented and extremely ambitious, but given the quality available to Benitez in attacking areas, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez and Isco vying for a spot behind the centre-forward, he’ll have to be patient.

It’s important not to thrust too much on a player who is still so young, as well.

While the Norwegian may have the quality to make an impression at the highest level, he’s still in the nascent stages of his football career, developing both physically and mentally. A loan spell may be beneficial initially but, in the long term, could put strenuous miles on the clock too early.

PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/Getty Images

Indeed, it’s clear Odegaard is going to be a vital part of Real’s future, and the club itself is laying down a lot of positive foundations with longevity in mind, per Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez:

Still, there’s a lot of hype that has accompanied Odegaard, and when the January window does open, you can bet there’ll be plenty of teams keen to take him on loan. Not only would any potential suitors be getting a player who has all the attributes to enrich a squad, but they’d be getting one of the most recognisable young footballers in the game.

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press/Associated Press

As we can see here courtesy of Bleacher Report UK, the teenager was recently rated by TIME magazine as one of the most influential young people from anywhere in the world:

It’s important Odegaard doesn’t chase too much to soon. Players like Michael Owen, Fernando Torres and Wayne Rooney—all teenage prodigies—have each felt the the effects of a heavy workload early in his career. There will be a clamour to see Odegaard in the first team quickly given his reputation, but Los Blancos must be careful when nurturing his precocious talent.

A loan move may give the Norway international a taster of competitive football at a higher level, but for him to move to a top flight side and become a key man may well be too much too soon for the 16-year-old. So staying at Real Madrid, continuing to find his feet for the reserve team and getting well acquainted with being a Los Blancos player wouldn’t be the worst decision.