6 Dec 2014

Next Stop LFC? - BR impressed by 'wonderful' €15m star who loves Liverpool

Liverpool are reportedly in pole-position to sign coveted midfielder Martin Odegaard, and it seems as if Brendan Rodgers is really pushing the boat out in an attempt to convince the youngster to sign for LFC.

On Wednesday, Odegaard visited Melwood, Anfield, and Liverpool city centre, and was spotted having dinner with Philippe Coutinho.

Today, Daily Mail reports:

"Norway starlet Martin Odegaard enjoyed a training session with Liverpool's first-team on Thursday as Brendan Rodgers continues to plot a move for the talented 15-year-old".

Rodgers is reportedly 'impressed' with Odegaard's performance during the session,

When asked today about his son's trip to Liverpool, Odegaard's father told Norwegian newspaper Dagblad:

“There is nothing new compared to what we have said previously, and we’re not going to comment on anything about it either.”

Rodgers has already acknowledged the Odegaard speculation, and when asked in his post-Madrid press conference about Liverpool's alleged interest, he told reporters:

"“I know the young player that you’re talking about for that age, to be playing senior football at 15 in a competitive league he’s got wonderful ability and wonderful talent."

€15m-rated Odegaard is a self-confessed Liverpool fan, and when asked recently about speculation linking him with a move to Anfield, he told Dagbladet:

“Liverpool is my favourite club. That is not to say that I dream to play for them. I’m thriving at Stromsgodset and feel that I can develop myself right here.”

By all accounts, Odegaard is one of the most coveted players in Europe, if not the most coveted, so if Liverpool can pull off this deal for a reasonable price, then it could be a long-term coup.

Personally, I can't see why Odegaard is in such a hurry to move. Where's the fire? He's 15 (!) - moving now will mean that he'll have to leave his home, family, friends, and entire way of life. He'll miss out on vital formative experiences; lose childhood friends, and probably end up living alone in some empty, soulless apartment, far away from family.

And for what? Money? The chance to endlessly warm the bench over the next 3-4 years? Odegaard is still a child, and in my view, his father is massively irresponsible for (seemingly) encouraging him to make a massive move at such a young age. He should be encouraging Odegaard to continue his development in Norway for another two years at least.

If Odegaard is such a huge talent, then he'll still be good in 2-3 years, no?

Author:


40 comments:

  1. Are you a man utd fan?

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  2. If you want to be the best you have to challenge yourself or he could take the easy option and stay where he is comfortable. I don't see the South American players taking the easy option.

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  3. I'm not in any way opposed to Liverpool signing 'players for the future', excepting that this isn't the clubs primary transfer strategy. In Odegaard's case, the buzz surrounding him is of such magnitude that if we don't snap him up it's highly likely that one of our evil rival clubs will. One thing's for sure; I'd hate to have the ignominy of being the club that is responsible for turning one of Europe's hottest prospects into a certified plum duff, so he will need measured support and a meticulously observed structure to his development, both physical and personal. At his age I didn't know my arse from my elbow (indeed, to this day I'm still not sure which is which).

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  4. At 15, should be on bench if he wants longevity in playing career. If he is that good then buy him, maybe worth 40 at 21, 50 at 22, 60 at 23 etc.


    Would be better to sign in summer not now and if funds are available in Jan spend on credible striker

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  5. If Liverpool were to buy him i would expect him to be loaned back home for 12 months at least he is way too young to try and bring him into the first team.

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  6. Jaimie you could say same for sterling why did he not stay at qpr ?
    liverpool have better training facillities and if it is his dream club he is not going to risk it

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  7. Or you could say james my mate that Odegaard is so confident in his own abilities he beleives he can easily breakthrough a good trait to have

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  8. If he is that good when he's older, then we'll be beaten to his signature. That's the point a lot of us are trying to make. There's even a bigger risk of missing out on him in the Summer.

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  9. Neymar. His father kept him home, to keep him grounded. Pretty big talent, maybe you've heard of him.

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  10. No sorry does not ring a bell is he a footballer?

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  11. FOOTBALL is his life though, he practices 20 hours a week - thats twice as much as anyone. He is determined to develop as quickly as possible. He trains on his 1st and 2nd touch alot so that he can get away from players and prevent lack of physicality being any issue. He will be playing 1st team football in a top league at 17.

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  12. We leave most of our childhood friends behind.It's a journey of life.He'll only be doing it a few years earlier than most.He'll stay in touch with the close ones.Martin Odegaard will make new friends.
    As for continuing his development in Norway.A bigger club like Liverpool will be better for him.He'll be playing with youngsters closer to his level.Which will help push his game on.In Norway at 15, he's already better than senior players.
    A move gives him a chance to grow at a big club.Learning about pressure and expectations which comes with playing for a footballing superpower like Liverpool.
    We've seen established players come in with big fish, small pond syndrome struggle with big club transition.
    Playing in the U21's is a learning school.Improving players on the field and also the mental challenges they have to pass, when they get first team football.

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  13. hes still a kid and should stay homes spotting trolls or robbing hub caps or what ever kids do in norway

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  14. I am happy enough signing him now but would propose an origi type deal. Get him here at sixteen and get him.working with our staff and knowing what we want. At seventeen see if we can get him a good loan spell. Hopefully we will have learned how to do this properly by then. At eighteen get him back and hopefully have tsomthing close to the player people think he could be. Introduce him slowly and don't heap too much pressure on him but make sure he is confident when on the field. At nineteen he could be a regular. All this sou ds simple but clearly isn't.

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  15. Yeah dead grounded. Didn't he join barca at nineteen?

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  16. I am not one to get lost in hype but I watched this video last night and I was blown away. I would compare this kid to Ronaldinho. Snap him up and load him back to his club for a season like we did Origi. If he says injury free, he will be world class in my opinion.
    http://youtu.be/Smi8jvNixL8

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  17. 😭😭😭😭😭 troll spotting. My fav film 👌

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  18. after reading your posts i concur

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  19. No need to be an elbow-hole.

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  20. He'll still be good in 2-3 years? Maybe, maybe not. The reality is that no matter how much talent or promise he has - he hasn't proven himself as capable of it at the top level of football and maybe he never will. Having faith in yourself (or your kids) is one thing, but turning down massive opportunities when there are no guarantees in life is not often done.


    The kid has to learn his trade somewhere. Liverpool have a decent youth system and teams playing at the top level of each age group. No, not too many make it through but some do. It's a game of numbers and it's probably the same if he takes his chance at Liverpool or somewhere else. One youth coach or another ... isn't it really all the same? He has to get better, learn how to play at the top level, grow physically and mentally and have good role models around him. He'll either come good or he won't but I think when a big club asks you to join you'd feel crazy not doing it.

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  21. Yes I googled him and found out that he is actually a footballer who played for Brazil at 17


    So if his Dad kept him at home so it wasn't exactly Alcatraz - maybe someone has heard of that :-)

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  22. I'll google alcetrazel is it?

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  23. He joined at 21, but was chased by top clubs for nearly 6 years.

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  24. i use it for indigestion

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  25. either that or he will flop and end up rearing sheep in Norway due to the pressure

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  26. He does seem obsessed with Liverpool so he might be ;-)

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  27. when you say rearing ........

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  28. a ghetto in brazil or the liberal life of norway ..........that may explain the dash to the airport for our sa friends

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  29. Oh no newcastle are besting chelsea

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  30. it depends on how good looking the sheep is

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  31. Invincible my a**;-)

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  32. Or do you mean your elbow?


    Ash's comment above ;-)

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  33. Having read Ash's comment, I kinda see the similarities now ;-)

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  34. He is 16 on 17 December....he is already playing first team football....sign him up now and in a year he could be in the first team squad if he is good enough, like sterling was...otherwise he will likely go to Ajax, straight into their first team and we will have to pay through the nose for him.....just to be clear this £15m rating has come out of thin air....we can sign him now for nothing he has only a youth contract. As soon as he turns 16 they can tie him to a pro contract which means he will then command a fee, but I am unaware of any tribunal system set up for continental clubs...that only happens between English clubs cos of FA rules (which is the main reason that top teams pack more foreign players into their youth setups) We paid nothing for Sergei Canos from Barca at the same age no?

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  35. Snap him up if we can, or else he'll be gone for good.

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  36. Many factual errors in this article. "Personally, I can't see why Odegaard is in such a hurry to move." He is in no hurry, why clubs around the world are offering him contracts, and he signs none of them. He has plenty money, plenty time, he can do nothing if he chooses to. Martin does not need any club, but many clubs might need Martin :-)

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  37. Next "He's 15 (!) - moving now will mean that he'll have to leave his home, family, friends, and entire way of life." His family is worth millions. If they want to move, they will do so. It's not a big issue. Flights from Liverpool to Oslo is less than 2 hours. The only thing Martin demands, is to play football to develop his skills in a top league. If EPL is too quick, then Ajax might be a destination, or another year in Norway. He will NOT play in any academy or youth team, ever! Martin has 100s of offers. He will only play where a good coach gives him input, plays him, improves him. That's what he wants. Brendan will have to beat Guardiola, Klopp and Zinedane, who all have talked to Martin. You asking why? Money? He needs no money. He is rich. Says how little you know about what kind of family the Ødegaards are. They are good people, not in it for money, just the football. He wants to play great football. Exactly that. :-)

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  38. If you think he will spend most time on the bench, why did our own defender(Lovren) call him brilliant? Brilliant. Last time you heard that from an EPL senior player about a 15 year old footballer? He would be much less on a bench than both Suso and Markovic, I am certain.

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  39. His father has played professional football his whole adult life. He is now an assistant manager for a club just promoted to the top level in Norway. You claim that Martin should do 2 more years in Norway. He is better than any player in the league, now, at 15. It's allready stopping his further development. He has no purpose running rings around grown men. It's no point for anyone. He needs challenges. 2 years in Norway would be a catastrophe for Martins football-education. If he aims for the very top(as he should).

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  40. He has a pro contract. He signed for Strømsgodset this spring. He could only play a few matches unless he signed a pro contract.

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