Carlo Ancelotti makes bold Martin Odegaard claim as Arsenal captain prepares for Real Madrid reunion | OneFootball

Martin Odegaard is set to face his former employers for the first time since joining Arsenal on a permanent transfer

Huge praise: Carlo Ancelotti

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Carlo Ancelotti believes Martin Odegaard was right to leave Real Madrid for Arsenal and has since gone on to become one of the best midfielders in Europe.

Odegaard signed for Real Madrid in January 2015 when he was just 16 years old, but he struggled to make an impact.

The Norwegian was sent out on loan four times and the last of those spells was at Arsenal, who he joined permanently in the summer of 2021 for around £30million.

Odegaard has since become captain of Arsenal and Ancelotti has praised the 26-year-old for getting his career back on track ahead of a reunion with Real Madrid on Tuesday night in the Champions League.

“He was very young [at Real Madrid],” said Ancelotti. “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.”

Odegaard has blossomed under the management of Mikel Arteta and Ancelotti has been impressed with the job he has done at Arsenal.

“He (Arteta) is doing a fantastic job,” he said. “He is near the top in the Premier League, he is in the quarter-final of the Champions League.

“From 2020 until now, he did really well. The team is stronger compared to the past and is going to be stronger in the future.”

Martin Odegaard during his days as a Real Madrid player

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Real Madrid are favourites ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first leg at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

Ancelotti’s side are the current holders and have also won the competition a record 15 times.

“Experience in this competition is really important - the experience, the knowledge,” said Ancelotti.

“The experience means you are not afraid to play this kind of game that puts on you a lot of pressure, because it is a really important competition.

“The fact we have a lot of players that have already played this type of game gives to the team, also the young players, more confidence.”