Modric Challenges Martin Odegaard To Prove His Worth At Real Madrid

JAKARTA - Luka Modric challenges Martin Odegaard to take a chance and prove that he deserves a place in the Real Madrid team.

Odegaard had a particularly impressive showing on loan at Real Sociedad last season, but has struggled to find regular playing time since returning to the Santiago Bernabeu.

A severe injury has disrupted his momentum and he has only played off the bench in the last five league games.

The 22-year-old player even only played for five minutes against Celta Vigo.

Madrid will only return to play in La Liga on January 23, with the Spanish Supercopa semi-final against Athletic Bilbao on Friday, possibly the final three days later, and a Copa del Rey clash with small team Alcoyano.

Odegaard is one of the players who are expected to get a chance to appear from the start of the match, and Modric said he should take this opportunity.

"I like Odegaard as a player and as a person," Modric said ahead of the match against Bilbao, quoted by Antara by Goal on Thursday.

"The advice I can give him is to keep working and fighting for his place in the team."

"When it is his turn to play, he has to show why he is here, make a difference and help the team."

"It is the coach's decision, here when you are going to play, you have to give your best, do your best and nothing else," added the 35-year-old Ballon d'Or winner.

"Not rotating is the coach's decision, you don't have to look for any other reason for this and that's it."

Another player who rarely gets minutes to play this season is Eden Hazard, who again had to grapple with injuries in Madrid in 2020-2021.

The former Chelsea man returned to play before the new year and recently featured for 75 minutes in the 0-0 draw against Osasuna.

"Hazard lacks continuity, unlucky the injury," said Modric. "All of these are reasons why he has not been able to show his best level. He is a great player; he will show this in Madrid."

"Now with continuity and without injury he will show why Madrid signed him."

If Madrid beat Bilbao, they will face Barcelona, who knocked out Real Sociedad on penalties, in the Spanish Supercopa final on January 17.