Real Madrid, Arsenal set to complete €50 million deal for Martin Odegaard

Real Madrid and Arsenal are set to complete a €50 million deal for midfielder Martin Odegaard, sources told Managing Madrid. Odegaard felt like coach Carlo Ancelotti wasn’t going to give him the minutes he felt he deserved and ultimately decided to leave Real Madrid, who accepted Odegaard’s decision.

Real Madrid would like to include a buyback option and that particular clause is still being discussed and negotiating between the two clubs. Arsenal are very reluctant to include that option in such an expensive deal and it won’t be easy for Madrid to keep an option to buy the player back.

Arsenal was always the most likely destination for Odegaard. The playmaker enjoyed his past loan deal in London and felt the trust of coach Mikel Arteta, who not only gave him the minutes but also the role he wanted to play as an attacking midfielder playing behind the striker.

The deal could be made official soon a Odegaard is a priority for Arsenal and their main target in the current transfer window. Real Madrid will publish their squad list for Saturday’s away match against Alaves and it’s not clear if Odegaard will be included or not, given that the player has completed the last training sessions with the squad.