4 Manchester City Targets That Bother Real Madrid

Martin Odegaard, 17, Real Madrid, Midfielder

Hands up if you saw this coming? I certainly didn’t. If you needed proof that MARCA might be a little bit paranoid, it’s this link right here. Literally nothing substantiated but plenty of speculation, though not without a little reason.

Odegaard was one of the most sought after young talents in the game last year and Real Madrid pipped everyone, though most notably Pep Guardiola, to the post in acquiring his signature. It was most notable because Pep promised Martin play time in Bayern’s first team, no such assurances were made with Madrid, but he opted for the latter nonetheless.

The suggestion is that Pep would still fancy a run at Odegaard and, possibly, this time at least, he might be tempted by a promise of first team football. I’m not sure why anyone would believe it would work now when it didn’t last year, but if playing under Pep doesn’t interest Odegaard then perhaps the financial incentive available at City might.

Having said that, there’s little to suggest it could happen or that Pep is even interested in stealing Real’s thunder. Odegaard is certainly a talent, cut from the same cloth as David Silva, but Pep knows well that Real have no incentive to move him and to try would be a waste of time. They don’t need the money, it certainly wouldn’t make a dent on Pogba’s rumoured fees, and with missing out on Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane, I don’t see Madrid being eager to part ways with any other young talent.

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Don’t be surprised if you don’t hear any more about Odegaard and any connection with Manchester City, at least this transfer window. There’s potential there, but without anything concrete I’m willing to put it down to some preconceived notions and a distinct lack of proof to back them up. It could be true, just as it could be true that Pep is going after Real Madrid for reasons untoward, but it’s still highly unlikely. Only time will tell.