Odegaard spotted watching loan destination club Rennes
Real Madrid Castilla player Odegaard was in France this Sunday to watch the match between Rennes and St. Etienne. His loan deal to the French outfit is nearly finalised.
Odegaard likely to be leaving Real Madrid for Rennes
'Operation Odegaard to Rennes' looks to be underway. The 17 year old Real Madrid Castilla player, sought by the French outfit on loan in the coming winter transfer market, has been spotted this Sunday in France, at the Rennes - St. Etienne match in Ligue 1. The evidence points to the loan deal being nearly finalised.
Zidane accepts Odegaard could leave
Zinedine Zidane, speaking after the Copa del Rey match against Cultural, said that Odegaard could move in January in search of playing time and experience in a league with a better standard than the Segunda B, where Real Madrid Castilla play their football.
"It's true that he'll be old enough, he's playing well, he's training with us and he's developed a lot, and maybe an option is to leave in the winter", said Zidane. And it looks almost certain that his destination will be Rennes, provided the clubs can reach an agreement.
Rennes tried to sign Odegaard in the summer
Last summer the Ligue 1 club tried to land Odegaard, but gave up when faced with problems over FIFA's rules on the transfer of minors. "He won't come this summer because of his age. Until December, when he turns 18, Real Madrid don't want to take any risks", said Rennes spokesman Mikael Silvestre this summer. Three months later and Silvestre admitted they were still keen to bring the Norwegian in during the winter transfer window: "We'll see in January..." he said.
Odegaard to go on loan to Rennes
If Odegaard does go to Rennes, as apppears likely, Real Madrid will only countenance a loan deal. They have no intention of letting the promising young talent get away, even more so with a possible FIFA transfer ban hanging over them, for alleged irregularities in the transfer of minors. The Court of Arbitration for Sport suspended FIFA's transfer ban, pending a final hearing. If Real Madrid fail to win the case, they will be banned from signing players for two transfer windows.
Odegaard arrived at Real Madrid in January 2015, having just turned 16, and after a long courtship, which saw the Spanish outfit beat off competition from major European clubs, such as Arsenal, Bayern and Liverpool, for his signature.
