Odegaard deal makes sense for Real Madrid

Sometimes the best experience for a young player is to get away from their club. Real Madrid knows that all too well.

That sounds like a bit of an odd statement. After all, wouldn’t it make more sense for the player to get time playing with the teammates who they are likely to spend the next five to ten years with? Why would one want their prospects to play somewhere else?

These are the questions that Real Madrid are asking themselves as they reportedly listen to offers for midfielder Martin Odegaard. The 17-year old Norwegian international is currently the hot topic in European football with The Sun reporting that West Ham United are interested in procuring his services on a short-term loan. It has also been reported by Marca that Liverpool are in the running for picking him up.

Although Odegaard is very young he has widely been projected as one of the top young prospects in the world. At just 15 years old he made his professional debut with Norwegian side Stromgodset where he scored five goals in 24 matches. In 2015, he made the move to Real Madrid where at the age of 17 he became the youngest player ever to start in La Liga match in the club’s history. He even made Time Magazine’s 30 Most Influential Teenagers.

So why loan him out? Although it might be beneficial for him in the short-term to stay with Madrid it makes more sense to seek minutes elsewhere. Although he seems to be in Madrid’s long-term plans in the short-term he is not likely to see much game-time. Aside from some minutes in the Copa del Ray and maybe a handful of games in La Liga, Odegaard would likely spend most of his time on the bench or with their B side which if the latter is the case would not benefit his career at all.

Getting starting minutes with Liverpool in the Premier League at this point in his career might also be a bit of a reach, but he would have the chance to train under Jurgen Klopp and contend for time in their League and FA Cup matches. West Ham would also provide similar opportunities and perhaps some time in Premier League games.

Either side would also get the services of a young attacking midfielder who by all accounts has a good attitude and a willingness to learn. That is something that cannot always be said in these situations.

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For Madrid there is also an economic benefit to having him go out on loan. If Odegaard goes abroad he will have the chance to show his abilities in one of the top leagues in the world. Every goal that he scores, every highlight-reel pass or dribble that he makes will drive up his value making him an even hotter commodity than he currently is.

If a roster spot never opens up for him with Madrid the club can opt to sell him. The more that he gets to showcase his skills, the more that he can shot his value the more money that Madrid would get from whomever they choose to sell him to down the road.

Odegaard certainly has the potential to become a regular with Real Madrid. But now is not that time. By going abroad and continuing to hone his craft Odegaard will make himself a better player and a better asset for Real Madrid.