MARTIN ODEGAARD has revealed Cristiano Ronaldo was one of three players who helped him settle at Real Madrid.
The Arsenal captain was the hottest property in European football when he joined Los Blancos for £3million in January 2015.
Odegaard couldn’t speak Spanish when he arrived in Madrid at just 16 years old but luckily there were a few players he could communicate with in English.
Former Premier League stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric as well as World Cup winner Toni Kroos spoke the language.
Speaking to The Players’ Tribune the Arsenal captain, 24, said: “All I’m thinking is about how these guys will treat me when I walk into their dressing room. This little kid who didn’t speak any Spanish.”
The Norwegian added: “But they were all very kind and the ones who spoke English, Kroos, Modric and Ronaldo, they took extra care of me in the beginning.”
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He concluded: “They gave me advice and helped me a lot. But, honestly, I don’t think any of them were particularly worried about a 16-year-old from Norway taking their place in the team.”
Odegaard would go on to become the youngest Real Madrid debutant in history back in May 2015 at just 16 years and 157 days old when he replaced Ronaldo during a 7-3 win over Getafe.
The now Arsenal captain’s time in the Spanish capital wasn’t a success and he only made 11 appearances in total during six and a half years on Los Blancos’ books.
He had loan spells at Dutch side SC Heerenveen and Spanish outfit Real Sociedad before going on his third loan spell to Arsenal in January 2021.
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The move to North London was made permanent the following summer for £30million.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
