Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has admitted Martin Odegaard made the best decision to leave Los Blancos for Arsenal in 2021.
There was plenty of hope that Odegaard would have a long career with Real Madrid when he joined the Spanish giants as a 16-year-old in 2015.
However, he ultimately failed to establish himself at the Santiago Bernabeu, featuring for the senior side on just 11 occasions.
Odegaard was sent on four different loan spells during his time at Real Madrid, including a short temporary stint at Arsenal before he made the move permanent in the summer of 2021.
The Norway international has since gone on to establish himself as a key figure at the Emirates Stadium, demonstrated by the fact he has been entrusted with the captain’s armband.
Ancelotti makes Odegaard admission
Odegaard has made a total of 187 competitive appearances for the Gunners, scoring 40 goals and contributing 34 assists.
The 26-year-old could be key to Arsenal’s hope of enjoying success in their upcoming Champions League quarter-final tie against his former club.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s first leg at the Emirates, Ancelotti made the best choice for his career by leaving the Santiago Bernabeu nearly four years ago.
“He was very young [at Real Madrid],” Ancelotti told reporters. “He had that talent when he was 16. He left the club for new experiences and he is one of the best midfielders right now in Europe.
“When he arrived, he was really young. He didn’t have space to play in the first team because in front he had Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez, and he didn’t find maybe the space to show his quality.
“He was really young, he decided to go away to have the possibility to play and I think – honestly – he did well because now he is back at one of the most important clubs in Europe.”
Ancelotti identifies one of Arsenal’s key strengths
Real Madrid travel to North London off the back of a disappointing 2-1 defeat in Saturday’s home clash against Valencia.
Los Blancos conceded the first of those two goals from a corner, and that is an area they need to improve upon for Tuesday’s fixture, with Ancelotti aware that one of Arsenal’s strengths is their threat from set pieces.
“Arsenal is very strong and powerful from set pieces,” Ancelotti said. “We’ll try to defend as best we can, but we can also hurt the other team from set pieces. It’s a very important aspect of the game.”
Real Madrid have received a fitness boost ahead of Tuesday’s fixture following the news that Thibaut Courtois will be available after a three-game injury absence.
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