When Real Madrid won the hectic chase to sign Norwegian wonderkid Martin Odegaard, it seemed like a huge coup.
And it might still turn out to be. However, there appears to be some teething problems between the 16-year-old full international and the Spanish club.
Odegaard trains with the Real first team (it's part of a clause in his contract) even though he still plays for the reserve team, yet has been dropped from the latter side by manager Zinedine Zidane.
"His father has clearly brought the kid up in the right way in terms of how to look after himself to make the best of his skill. They've said to Real Madrid 'we didn't sign the contract to be treated the way that we've been treated' and it's left them putting their foot down over an issue that makes them look stupid. But it's exactly specified in the contract which tells you that Real Madrid, with all their experience that they've conglomerated, signed a contract that was sooner or later going to leave them embarrassed because Zidane said 'listen, I don't like your attitude and I'm putting you on the bench' and try to bring the kid to heel," said Off The Ball's European football correspondent Graham Hunter tonight.
But Graham does feel that Odegaard will progress to the fringes of the first team next season.
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