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MARTIN ODEGAARD made just his third appearance for Real Madrid on Sunday night, more than five years after his debut.
In May 2015, the Norwegian star became the club’s youngest player by replacing Cristiano Ronaldo from the bench.
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More than anything, the decision to play Odegaard at just 16 years and 157 days was symbolic.
Clubs around the world had competed for the signing of the attacking midfielder for months before he opted to leave Stromsgodset for Madrid.
Upon arriving at the Real Castilla reserve team, led by Zinedine Zidane, the young man was told to train with the senior team, but initially ran into problems.
Eyebrows rose in giving the teenager such prominence, particularly by Carlo Ancelotti.
In 2016, the Real manager at the time of Odegaard’s arrival said: “The president decided that he would play three games with the first team as a public relations exercise.
“He could be the best player in the world, but I don’t care because he was not a player I asked for. That signing had to do with public relations.”
A better 2015/16 season saw Odegaard win his second senior outing and he went on a quiet 18-month spell with Heerenveen.
More loans at Vitesse and Real Sociedad saw the player finally move towards the monumental potential that many believed he had.
Madrid fought hard to bring Odegaard back to the Bernabéu, and withdrew him successfully midway through a two-year contract in San Sebastián.
And Odegaard started against his former club when they began their LaLiga title defense on Sunday night.
A 0-0 draw left Los Blancos with doubts about their attack, with Vinicius and Rodrygo unconvinced.
Odegaard was replaced in the 69th minute when Zidane, without injured pair Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio, turned Luka Jovic off to remove rookies Marvin Park and Sergio Arribas from the bench.
Speaking after the match, the 21-year-old insisted that he has a lot to learn from the seasoned stars around him, with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos also in the lead.
He told Movistar +: “I understand them well but it is always difficult at the beginning.
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“They are players of an incredible level and that makes it easier for me.”
He added: “I feel good but we are missing the victory.
“It doesn’t make me very happy, although it’s good to play for Real Madrid again. It was a game against friends and good people.”
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