Odegaard: "If I score against Real Madrid, I won't celebrate"
Having recovered from an ankle injury, Sociedad sensation Martin Odegaard is hoping to play at least some part in the game against his parent club on Saturday.
When Real Madrid sent Martin Odegaard on yet another loan assignment, this time to Real Sociedad, they did not expect him to become one of LaLiga’s sensations this season.
Since his move to San Sebastian this summer, the 20-year-old midfielder has been one of La Real’s most important players and an indisputable starter for coach Imanol Alguacil.
Before an ankle injury that has seen him miss the Basque club’s last two fixtures, Odegaard had started and finished all 11 LaLiga games for Sociedad, scoring two goals and providing three assists – including ‘that one’ against Alavés, almost unarguably the most stunning assist of the season to date (check it out on YouTube if you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing it yet).
It’s not the first time the young winger has impressed while on loan: he enjoyed a great campaign last year with Vitesse in Holland, providing 11 goals and 12 assists in 39 games.
However, this year the Norway international is, of course, much closer to home and could line up against Los Blancos when Sociedad visit the Bernabéu on Saturday.
Odegaard relishing chance to play against Real Madrid
Having made a satisfactory recovery from the ankle injury, he is relishing the possibility of playing at least play some part in the game against his parent club, who recently ended a rule that prohibited their own loan players lining out against them.
“My ankle is much better, I hope to be at the Bernabeu on Saturday,” he said in an interview with Spain’s El Larguero radio programme.
“I played through the pain against Levante and after I think it was the right decision to stop for a bit. Now I feel better.
“I haven't stopped working in order to return as soon as possible. Playing against Real Madrid is a special match, but I want to play every game.”
No celebration if he scores against Real Madrid
Should Odegaard manage to help Sociedad to an unlikely victory at the Bernabéu, where the hosts remain unbeaten this season, the currently fifth-placed side would jump one point ahead of Madrid (with the latter retaining a game in hand).
However, Odegaard has admitted that he if does manage to find a way past Courtois in front of the Bernabéu faithful, he would refrain from celebrating as a mark of respect.
“If I score at the Bernabeu, I won't celebrate. If I score against La Real in the future, I won't either,” he said.
And while he revealed his love for playing at the Anoeta Stadium, where “every match is special”, Odegaard’s ultimate goal remains returning to make a success of himself at Madrid, who will be more aware than anyone of his progress over the past 18 months.
“My goal is to succeed at Real Madrid, but I'm happy at La Real for now,” he said.
“I don't care if I have to wait two or five years to play for Real Madrid. I want to win La Liga with Real Madrid.”