Arsenal Sporting Director Edu Gaspar takes dig at Real Madrid following Golden Boy awards

Arsenal Sporting Director Edu Gaspar has made it clear that he believes Real Madrid could have gotten more out of Martin Odegaard had they dealt with his development a little better.

After Jude Bellingham received the 2023 Golden Boy award from Tuttosport, Edu was presented with an award for the best director. He was quizzed on Martin Odegaard after the awards night, and explained why he felt that the Norwegian had been a success at Arsenal and not Real Madrid.

“There are players who work well on one team and poorly on another. It depends on good moments, opportunities… our strategy is and was to sign young players, and he fit. He came on loan and then we decided to buy him.”

“We have been following Martin for many years and perhaps we have had the patience that others have not. Now he is one of our captains, enjoying himself, and is one of the recognisable faces of our team.”

He was more complementary of Los Blancos when asked exactly how far their current young sensation, Jude Bellingham, could go.

“Buffff, good question. You could already see in the Bundesliga that with his potential he could go very far but, when he arrives at Madrid and you start to see what he is doing, you realise that he is something special, different,” he told Marca.

“Now you have to enjoy when you see him playing. We must congratulate Real Madrid and him for the great season he is having. Football is happy to have players like him. His presence is great news.”

Certainly Odegaard’s situation looked as if it was poorly handled from the outside. He was finding his feet for the first time in Spain with Real Sociedad while he was on loan there, and had a second year in his deal at La Real to complete. Real Madrid recalled him early, but whne he returned to the Santiago Bernabeu, was given little in the way of opportunities to make his mark. After just 367 minutes, he was loaned out to Arsenal, where he would go on to become one of their stars and eventual captains.

Tags Arsenal Edu Gaspar Martin Odegaard Real Madrid Real Sociedad

5 Comments

  1. I think Real Madrid gave him a big opportunity to build his name in Real Madrid history BUT he did’nt use it wisely, he did’nt have the paitent, the courage and compete enough versus other stars in Real Madrid squad.
    Many big player, BIGGER & MORE HISTORY THAN HIM sit and Waiting Their Oppertunity to Show Real Madid Coach and Fans What They have and What They Can added to The Team BUT he Didn’t!!!
    He Didn’t use any Opprtunity ZIZOU gave him to added to the team, he played without any spirit !
    He selected the short cut, the easy one to go to another team and paly there, and that his choice and he responsible about his choices!
    BUT Arsenal not like Real Madrid, There is a hug Differece Between them, and he knew that very well now after he lost the opportunity to win the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE for The 13 and 14 Times and La Liga as Well versus NOTHING Until Now With Arsenal

    We are Responsible About Our Own Choices, their Consequences, and our lives in total.

    Thank you.
    Dr. Alessandro Contini

  2. Odegaard couldnt outcompete and oust Kroos and Modric.
    Few people could during their prime.
    Their trophies speak for themselves.

    Wrong time, wrong place.

    1. we all see the obviousness of his incompetence. Another league loading without a Trophy. Mark my words

  3. The difference: Champions league favourites- Real. Those ones are underdogs. They say the league is the best, the same thing happening for three straight seasons. Arsenal leading the table for majority season jus to lose it in the fourth quarter. Odegaard can’t guide the team to a meaningful trophy. But after his departure, Kroos, Modric and Carvajal already a Champions league title to their names, but someone comes disturbing us with a player’s incompetence. We don’t need that. Hala Madrid

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