Ripped with Arteta, Ødegaard Ready to Leave Arsenal to Move to MU

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard (@skysport)

JAKARTA - Arsenal's public favorite captain, Martin Odegaard, is said to have surprised the club's management after instructing his agent to open communication with arch-rivals Manchester United. The move is said to be a probe of a possible transfer in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report of Topskills Sports UK, Sunday, February 15, said the Norwegian midfielder had strengthened his intention to leave the Emirates Stadium. Although still captain of the team, Ødegaard is rumored to have begun exploring other options to continue his career, with a preference to continue playing in the highest competition in England, the Premier League.

The reason behind the decision was quite surprising. Ødegaard felt underappreciated, both by the club's senior management and the coaching staff. This feeling triggered internal tensions that were considered increasingly difficult to repair.

A source quoted by Talksport said the prolonged conflict with manager Mikel Arteta was the main trigger for the deterioration of their relationship in recent weeks.

"Reports say that there were promises that were previously given to Ødegaard but were not kept, which damaged the captain's trust in his manager," Talksport wrote.

The internal situation at Arsenal is said to have heated up. Although his role is still vital in the game scheme and still wears the captain's armband, Ødegaard is rumored to feel that his vision is no longer in line with the direction of the club.

Outside of England, Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich, is reportedly continuing to monitor the situation. The German club is said to be ready to make a serious offer. However, Ødegaard's main priority remains staying in the Premier League, which he values as the most competitive league at the moment.

The interest towards Old Trafford has the potential to spark a major controversy given Arsenal's long-standing rivalry with Manchester United. If Bayern want to steer the playmaker towards Germany, they are believed to have to submit a very convincing financial proposal and sports project.

Throughout this season, Ødegaard has recorded 26 appearances in all competitions with 1 goal and 6 assists. With an estimated market value of 75 million euros according to Transfermarkt, his transfer potential has the potential to become one of the biggest sagas in this year's transfer window.