Returning Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard confesses he ‘just wants to play football’ and looks likely to leave the club again.
The 20-year-old netted 11 goals across 34 appearances in a stellar campaign on loan at Vitesse, leading to speculation that he could be included in Madrid’s first-team squad.
However, El Espanol report that this remains unlikely with Ajax and Bayer Leverkusen the most likely destinations for the Norwegian starlet next season.
“I do not want this summer to pan out like last summer,” Odegaard told VG, in quotes cited by Diario AS.
“It was a very good year; I took big steps and I grew more in my game. Now I want to go on vacation, but I do not want summer to repeat itself, it was not good for me.
“The indication from Real Madrid is that they are very happy with me, but it is difficult to play there and probably it will also be the case next season.
“They have also sold many players with a repurchase clause, I do not care much, I just want to go somewhere where I have the opportunity to play and a Coach that believes in you.”
Madrid signed Odegaard, then aged just 15, from Norwegian club Strømsgodset in 2014 but he has featured just twice for the club since with his last appearance against Cultural y Leonesa in November 2016 in a Copa del Rey clash.
Ajax are said to have already made a €20m offer for the player but Los Blancos are insistent that they will not sanction a permanent exit, even though the Amsterdam-based club included a buyback clause.
Madrid are said to favour an exit to the Bundesliga, which they see as a stronger league and one which holds greater similarities to La Liga.
This is where Bayer Leverkusen come in, with Dani Carvajal previously having a successful stint there before returning to Madrid’s first team.
