He's the most notoriously well paid young man in football, so perhaps it's no surprise that there has been something of a bumpy transition from in-demand teenager to Real Madrid's next great hope.
€100,ooo a week is reportedly the insane wage that the 16 year old Norwegian has been raking in since his move to Madrid from Stromsgodset. Since then, Odegaard has been faced with a less than ideal scenario where he trains with the Madrid first team for five days of the week and then plays with the Castilla, the reserve team, at the weekend.
Understandably that has led to some division in the camp with Spanish newspaper AS quoting unnamed players who have complained that the Norwegian international 'can't be bothered' with his Castilla duties.
That would seem to tie in with some of his performances on the field. Zinedine Zidane's Castilla side lie in sixth place in the Segunda Division B. Following a run of four games without a point, Odegaard joined up with Norway for international duty. While away Madrid got back to winning ways and he's since failed to find a place in the team.
It must be said, that is understandable given his training schedule. The AS report says that 'backroom staff feel that with Ødegaard in the side, Castilla play more like a team of 10 than 11 because the rest of the team can never find him'. However, when you're training with Ronaldo, Bale et al for five days of the week, it's asking an awful lot to expect him to fit seamlessly into another team at the weekend.
Although that seems like an easy fix, it is apparently Odegaard and his father who are ensuring this situation remains in place. A clause in his contract stipulates that he trains with the first team and although coaches would like to amend that, they have been met with resistance from the player and his representatives.
One way or another though, it does look like there's quite a bit of work ahead if Odegaard is to live up to the reputation that proceeds him.
[ESPN]
