Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard is at long last operating like the kind of player his former Real Madrid colleague Cristiano Ronaldo once claimed he could.
The 23-year-old playmaker has finally appeared to find a home at the Emirates after years either on the sidelines at the Santiago Bernabeu or loan spells away at other clubs. During his time in the Spanish capital, Odegaard spent plenty of time on the training ground with Los Blancos legend and five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo.
The Norwegian's move to Madrid caused quite the stir given he was just 13 years of age when European football's biggest clubs started registering their interest. By the age of 16, he was a Real Madrid player and training both with the first-team and the reserves.
During an interview with BT Sport while still in Spain himself back in 2014, Ronaldo was pressed for comment on the five players at the time he felt would go on to enjoy stellar careers. "You see many players with potential," he explained.
"I will mention Martin Odegaard of Madrid for example, at 16 he's still young but you can see he's a very good player. He's a great player, I think he's a young boy, he can still grow. He has a good future ahead. We must give him time to learn, to take his best decisions. But I see a lot of potential in the player, he has got a good left foot."
Things failed to play out that way for Odegaard in Madrid, the midfielder struggling to live up to the lofty expectations placed upon his shoulders. Loan spells at Heerenveen and Vitesse followed, before his most impressive period away from the club at fellow Spanish side Real Sociedad.
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Another loan spell at Arsenal came shortly after, before a permanent switch to the Emirates triggered the best form of his club career. Six goals and four assists in the Premier League have reminded many of the kind of ability the 23-year-old boasts as he plays his part in the club's top four charge.
Eight years on from Ronaldo's prediction, Odegaard is now a central figure to Arsenal's hopes of Champions League qualification and viewed as one of the most important players in Mikel Arteta's system. The midfielder is even being touted for the captaincy if Alexandre Lacazette leaves in the summer.
Already the skipper for his country, Odegaard's leadership qualities set him apart from players in his age group and his unique rise to the top appear to have put him in good stead. "He is the national team captain," the Gunners boss explained. "He is one of the senior players here, for sure, even at his age, and it comes very natural to him."
