Ødegaard: "I felt it wouldn't be good for me to go back to Real Madrid"
The Norwegian, who is on loan at Real Sociedad, told TV2: "For me, at this moment, it's very important to be playing and in Madrid, I think that is difficult to do".
Martin Ødegaard has been one opf the players who has impressed the most during the opening weeks in LaLiga. The Norwegian, who is on loan at Real Sociedad from Real Madrid, has scored two goals in two games and is at the top of his game. His most recent performance - against Atlético at the weekend, thrilled home fans at Reale Arena - he scored the opener and helped guide the Donostiarras to a 2-0 win over the league leaders. Ødegaard is going through a happy time in San Sebastián - as he told TV2: "I feel really at home here": He also admitted that it never crossed his mind to return to Madrid this summer to try to win a place in Zidane's side.
Loan spell at Real Sociedad: "At the end of last season, I felt it wouldn't be good for me to go back to Madrid. For the younger players, and for me in this moment, it's very important to be getting playing time. In Madrid, I think that's very difficult to achieve. There are a lot of good players there and competition for places is fierce. It was quite obvious to me that the best thing for me to do was ask for another loan and I think the club felt the same and accepted it. That's why the decision went through so quickly".
Happy in San Sebastián: "I am having a great time here and I'm enjoying it. Everything about it is good, and so I'm very happy. I'm settled and I feel completely at home. That makes everything easier. I felt I'd made the right choice right from the start. The people here are very friendly, the players are great and they've been looking after me since the day I arrived. The coach too, he's really helping me a lot. He is very sure about what he wants, which makes it easy for me to understand what I need to do within the team. That makes everything so much easier".
Real Madrid: "My objective is still to play for Real Madrid. That's why I signed for them - because I want to play there one day. For me, this is the place I need to be. I feel I have improved as a player over the past two years. I think I'm a better player and more mature now - I'm older and stronger. I feel better in myself now than I diod when I first came to Spain. Age helps too of course".
Real Madrid closely following his progress
Ødegaard is showing that Real Madrid were right to have faith in him. His loan spell at Real Sociedad is part of a plan designed to help him quickly adapt to life in LaLiga after his two loan stints in Holland (Heerenveen and Vitesse). He signed a one-year loan deal with La Real with the option of a second year but Madrid could theoretically bring him back next summer. Both clubs enjoy and excellent relationship which suggests that a deal could be reached which suits all parties. If Madrid decide to recover Ødegaard for the 2020-21 campaign they won't have any problems. In any case, they renewed his contract until 2022 before letting him leave on loan…