Odegaard, A Coward Who Can't Beat Madrid

Martin Odeegard (Photo: MARCA)

JAKARTA - It is difficult to understand what really happened to Martin Odegaard. It would not be normal for there to be no place for a player who performed so well at Real Sociedad last season, especially in a Real Madrid team that had not had a refurbishment in midfield for some time. He is also a player who has done so well in the Eredivisie that many of Europe's top clubs want to sign him.

Zinedine Zidane is once again in the spotlight, considering how many players have grown tired of waiting for their opportunity under his leadership. Yes, it is true. But it's also true that Odegaard doesn't seem the type of player capable of conquering the world ... at least in his Real Madrid shirt.

As revealed by the editor of MARCA, Miguel Angel Lara, playing in another shirt is different from playing in a club with 13 European Cups and 34 La Liga titles. There are many players, some of them better than the Norwegian, who have also experienced the 'black holes' that arise when the weight of the jersey proves too heavy.

Zidane lost faith in the Norwegian, assuming he did have some 'black holes' at first. This was partly due to his failure, and partly because of the failure of his players.

Odegaard started at the start of this season. The first two games were awarded to him and, if you go back and watch him, he is not as fresh, brave and 'cheating' as last season at La Real. He is a different player and is afraid, shy, ineffective and not willing to take risks. He was substituted on both occasions.

In the match against Real Betis, he was sent off at halftime because Real Madrid could not defend themselves with three midfielders, one of whom seemed absent on the pitch. Then, in Kiev, when Real Madrid struggled for life in the Champions League, it was almost the same.

Of course, a player needs time and space. However, Real Madrid is not the kind of club that can just allow trains to pass by. There must be struggle, hard work, totality, and consistency.

Odegaard may have reason to feel frustrated with Zidane, because Zizou did not allow himself to play 10 games in a row. But Zidane has reason to be disappointed with Odegaard, who was never the same player as at any other club.

Odegaard has shown nothing, either in terms of play or character, that would make us think "he deserves to play instead of Luka Modric". He is very different compared to when he arrived in San Sebastian. In the first month of the 2019/20 season, he was named La Liga's 'player of the month'.

It is entirely possible that the Norwegian will shine at Arsenal, as he did at Real Sociedad. However, that will not be enough to dispel suspicions that playing for Real Madrid is too much a request for him at the moment.

When he returned, he must, above all, clarify this question. He has to show whether or not he is able to handle the weight of the white jersey on his shoulders.