Real Madrid ‘hope Martin Odegaard will be back to his best after spell at Arsenal’

Real Madrid ‘hope Martin Odegaard will be back to his best after spell at Arsenal’… with Norwegian still part of Zinedine Zidane’s plans for the future

  • Martin Odegaard joined Arsenal in a six-month loan deal from Real Madrid 
  • The Norwegian has impressed in midfield during his first month in north London
  • Mikel Arteta has hinted that he would be interested in a permanent deal 
  • But that seems unlikely, with Odegaard firmly part of Madrid’s long-term plans 

Real Madrid are hopeful Martin Odegaard will be back to his best in LaLiga next season after impressing in the first month of his loan spell at Arsenal

The Norwegian, who featured only nine times for Madrid this season before moving to north London in a six-month loan deal in January, has featured six times for Mikel Arteta’s side thus far. 

The 22-year-old has been praised for the creative impetus he has added in the Gunners midfield but Madrid are definitely planning for him to return and improve the team next season, according to Spanish outlet Marca

Zidane started the Norwegian just three times in LaLiga this season before he was allowed to join Arsenal on loan

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane (R) hopes to have Martin Odegaard (L) back to his best 

The report details that the LaLiga champions see Odegaard as a key part of their long-term plans. 

It adds that tendinitis in his knee meant the playmaker struggled to maintain his fitness in the Spanish capital earlier this season, with an issue that was still bothered him a few weeks ago. 

He also started the 2020-21 season without any pre-season training under his belt, with his knee constantly bothering him. 

Odegaard made just three LaLiga starts this season for Zinedine Zidane’s side, who have struggled at various points this season. 

Mikel Arteta has previously hinted that Arsenal would be interested in a permanent deal

Mikel Arteta has previously hinted that Arsenal would be interested in a permanent deal 

Arteta had revealed that Arsenal may want to turn Odegaard’s loan into a permanent deal at the end of the season. 

He said: ‘We have Martin for a few months from Real Madrid and first of all we have to maximise this time with him to try to bring to the team all the qualities he has.

‘At the end of the season we will sit together and decide where we can take that relationship forward. At the moment it doesn’t just depend on us.’