Arsene Wenger: I Fought “Like Mad” To Sign Martin Odegaard

By The Editor
on 2nd April 2024

Wenger remembers training a young Odegaard…

Former Gunners boss Arsene Wenger stated that he fought hard to land Martin Odegaard in 2014 when the Norwegian trained at London Colney during his European tour, the Frenchman told Freddie Ljungberg.

Odegaard was the most sought-after teenager in modern football and, at the age of 15, was able to travel across Europe to the biggest club and almost have them audition for him.

Given Wenger’s infamous quality of nurturing talent, it made sense that Odegaard’s representatives felt the need to meet the iconic boss along their travels.

As we know, Odegaard’s father inevitably took his son to Real Madrid which seems like a financial decision in hindsight – one that almost ruined the playmaker’s career.

Odegaard would find himself back in north London seven years later courtesy of Mikel Arteta – who was likely present in those training sessions in 2014.

“Yeah, (I remember him) very well. We did fight like mad to get him,” Wenger told his former Swedish star.

“When I got him in a training session, I remember it was Steve Morrow who brought him into training with his father, and he reminded me of Fabregas. Good vision, good technical qualities, at ease with professional players with the first team.

“You could see there was something special there. In the end, he chose to go to Real Madrid.”

Odegaard’s mental toughness must be commended during his unstable period at Real Madrid as he failed to succumb to the curse of the ‘failed wonderkid.’

His technical qualities were always going to of the required level, he has the type of talent you can’t teach. However, given his high-profile move to Real Madrid as a teenager, the fact that he was constantly loaned out must’ve taken its toll.

Now, just as Wenger predicted, Odegaard has developed into one of the best playmakers in Europe as he now skippers Arsenal in our chase for a Premier League and Champions League double.