REAL MADRID boss Zinedine Zidane has revealed Martin Odegaard forced through his loan move to Arsenal despite being asked to stay.
The Norwegian, who joined the Gunners towards the end of the January transfer window, was told he should remain at Los Blancos by Zidane.
Odegaard has featured for Arsenal as a substitute against Man Utd and Aston VillaCredit: AP:Associated Press
But according to the French manager Odegaard was not willing to stay put as he moved to England in the search of first team football.
Speaking in a Real Madrid press conference ahead of their match against Huesca, he said: “[Odegaard] wanted to leave.
“We have talked about it two or three times. He is a player who wants to play.
“It was the player’s demand [to leave]. I told him that he had to stay, fight, have peace of mind, because this is a long process.
“He’s a player who I asked for us to bring in [after spending last season on loan at Real Sociedad].
“It has not been the case and in the end it is everyone’s decision. I hope he is happy.”
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Odegaard enjoyed a successful spell at Real Sociedad last season and returned to Real Madrid in the hope of solidifying a regular starting place.
But in the first half of the 2020-21 campaign he only featured nine times for Real in all competitions.
Having joined Arsenal, Odegaard has already appeared in two of the three matches he has been eligible for.
He came on as a substitute in the Gunners’ goalless draw with Manchester United and 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
