Dimitar Berbatov has suggested that Real Madrid are ‘scratching their heads’ and possibly regretting selling Martin Odegaard to Arsenal.
The 24-year-old has been one of Arsenal’s best players this season, as former Manchester United striker Berbatov hailed the ‘mature’ nature of his game and how he will still get ‘even better’.
Mikel Arteta’s side outclassed north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, with Odegaard scoring an outstanding long-range effort in the first half to double his side’s lead.
After initially moving to the Emirates Stadium on a six-month loan deal, during the summer of 2021, Arsenal paid Real Madrid £30 million (Sky Sports) for the playmaker and they haven’t looked back since.
Ian Wright recently stated that the road Odegaard is going down, he has been one of the Players of the Season, and he’s not wrong.
Former Spurs striker Berbatov was also giving flowers to the Norway international and added that ‘there is a reason’ he is the captain, as he told Premier League Productions (15/01/23 at 6:50 pm).
“If Real Madrid is watching, they are probably scratching their heads, ‘we didn’t judge him right, we didn’t have the patience’, said Berbatov.
“But I think that loan spells he had when he was at Real Madrid, to three different clubs, I think? That helped him develop and help him become what he is today.
“Of course, he is still very young and he’s going to get even better and more mature. But the way he plays, that maturity is even there now. We can see the tricks, the turns and the passes. He wants the ball. He doesn’t wait for the ball. He’s just going and chasing the game, rather than the game chasing him. He wants that responsibility.
“Maybe because of all this quality, that’s why he is the captain. There is a reason for him to be captain.”
ODEGAARD’S ARSENAL’S UNSUNG HERO
There would have been big pressure on Odegaard’s shoulders when he was at Real Madrid as a fresh-faced teenager.
A lot of hype and expectations because he was seen as this wonderkid. Many youngsters have been labelled with that tag and many have fallen.
But not Odegaard, who was an unsung hero during his early days at the Emirates, but now he is getting his due rewards, praise and respect.
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