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New Real Madrid signing Martin Odegaard was unveiled today at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Norwegian 16-year-old confessed playing for Los Blancos is “a dream come true” and explained that his new club already feels “like home.”

“This is a dream come true. Signing for Real Madrid is something incredible, and it’s an honour to play for the best club in the world. It will be exciting to play here. I’m very excited,” he told the journalists at the press conference.

Odegaard had plenty of offers from big European clubs such as Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Chelsea. “The reason I chose Real is because they’re giving me the chance to develop as a player. Real Madrid have the best options. I felt it was the best choice. They gave me a warm welcome and it felt like home,” he explained.

“Having a reserveds team with such a great coach [Zinedine Zidane] is an advantage. Real Madrid Castilla is a high quality team and that has been key for making my decision,” Odegaard admitted.

“Tener un segundo equipo a buen nivel con un entrenador como Zidane es una ventaja. El Castilla es un equipo de mucha calidad y también ha sido importante para decidirme”.
“Everything has gone faster than I expected. Last year was incredible for me and this year is also going great so far. My goal is to become a great player. I don’t care about playing for the first team or the reserve team,” Odegaard added.

The Norwegian teenager spent a few days training with Los Blancos a few days ago: “I spoke with players and managers. What we said is private, but all of them are great people. All Real Madrid players are world-class footballers, but Cristiano Ronaldo is the world’s best. I also like Gareth Bale, Isco… I could name them all.”

When asked if he feels the pressure of signing for such a big club, Odegaard was clear: “I don’t, but of course it’s different than playing for Stromsgodset. I’m going to try and enjoy this dream.”

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Inter Milan have joined the chase for Real Madrid’s Asier Illarramendi, according to reports in Italy and Spain.

The Seria A giants have already added Lukas Podolski and Xherdan Shaqiri to their squad this month and now manager Roberto Mancini wants to reinforce his midfielder with the signing of the Basque player.

The Italians face competition from La Liga outfit Athletic Bilbao. Earlier this week, we reported the club were looking for a loan deal, but many leading papers in Spain claim the San Mames side are willing to pay 25 million euros to complete a permanent deal this month. Premier League sides Arsenal and Liverpool are also said to be monitoring the situation.

Illarramendi arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2013 in a 32 million euro deal from Real Sociedad. He has made 70 appearances for the side, mainly as a sub, and the player has failed to live up to expectations in the Spanish capital.

With midfielders Luka Modric and Sami Khedira currently out of action, Los Blancos were initially against the idea of letting Illarramendi leave the club in this transfer window. But they would be persuaded to part with their man should they be able to recoup most of the fee they paid for him 18 months ago.

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Martin Odegaard with Real Madrid

Real Madrid have announced one of their most expected signings. The 16-year-old Norwegian pearl Martin Odegaard has turned down offers from Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester United among others to complete a move to the Spanish capital.

The much-sought after playmaker has made a big impression playing for Norwegian side Stromsgodset, where he made his debut last April. Since then, his progression has been extraordinary. In fact, he has even made his debut for Norway national team, becoming the youngest player to ever play in the European Championship qualifying.

Los Blancos have surely ensured their midfield line will shine for many years on. Odegaard is a remarkably gifted player who has the ability to become one of the world’s greatest.

Odegaard can play in the wings or in the playmaking zone behind the striker, where he displays fantastic skills and vision. He has proved to have great intelligence and understanding of the game. In fact, he’s a well-known expert in providing assists. He counted seven in 23 games last season.

His great vision becomes a bigger threat thanks to his good dribbling skills. His favourite play consists of dribbling past two or three defenders and handing the ball to the striker for an easy conversion. He can twist and turn around players very easily thanks to his small frame, in a way that is similar to Isco.

Odegaard combines great speed with pace and trickery, what makes him a decisive player in the last third of the field. His high intensity game matches perfectly with Real Madrid’s style, so he will surely adapt easily to his new team.

His main weakness is possibly his problems in scoring, but at 16-years-old he has plenty of time to improve that aspect, especially since he’s going to learn from one of the world’s greatest: Zinedine Zidane.

Check out Martin Odegaard’s skills in the following video:

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Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema is a weak link in the Real Madrid side, according to former player Guti.

The ex-midfielder, who played more than 500 times for Real Madrid during an illustrious career, says the Frenchman needs to be more prolific in front of goal.

Benzema, who signed for Los Blancos from Lyon almost six years ago, has scored 14 goals in 29 games this season – eight of which have been scored in La Liga. In total he has scored 125 goals for the club.

But speaking on popular football show El Chiringuito, Guti said Benzema must do more and is always the first one to be blamed whenever Los Blancos play badly.

“For me Benzema is a weakness. He began the season badly but I hope he continues to offer the quality he showed in the last games of 2014,” he commented.

And he added: “Benzema is not a natural centre-forward but has a great understanding with Cristiano Ronaldo, yet he needs to be more selfish and score more goals. No 9’s are always a little bit individualistic, although that’s something I don’t mind. If within a month he is playing badly then he’ll get criticised again.

“There are two or three players who are being closely scrutinised and Benzema is one of them. When the team plays badly the first one to be criticised is him, although I can identify with that.”

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Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of Norwegian wonderkid Martin Odegaard.

The 16-year-old has chosen Los Blancos ahead of a host of other leading European clubs including Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Barcelona having spent the last few months touring many of their facilities across Europe.

But having been invited to Madrid two weeks and taking in the Copa del Rey tie against Atletico de Madrid, the young midfielder has decided his future is best in the Spanish capital.

Los Blancos will pay a reported five million euros to his current club Stroemsgodset for the transfer of the player. A statement on the Real Madrid website read: “Real Madrid and Stroemsgodset have reached an agreement for the transfer of Martin Odegaard.”

He will undergo a medical on Thursday before being presented to the media at the stadium.

The teenager isn’t expected to be thrown into first team action for a while but will instead link up with Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid Castilla.

Odegaard burst onto the scene last season when he became the youngest scorer in the Norwegian Premier League. He ended up with five goals in 23 appearance for his club before making his debut for his national side in August. At 15 years 253 days, he is the youngest player to represent his country. He also featured for Norway in the European Championship qualifier against Bulgaria in the autumn.

Norway manager Per-Matias Hoegmo told the Aftenposten newspaper: “He has developed enormously in a short time. He brought down barriers that I think neither he nor anyone else imagined would fall. His way of playing, his talent, his ability to make choices and think, all of this is impressive.”

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Atletico de Madrid boss Diego Simeone has said that Real Madrid fans respect him even if they don’t like him or his team.

Los Colchoneros knocked Los Blancos out of the Copa del Rey last week, seeing off Carlo Ancelotti’s me 4-2 over two legs. The Vicente Calderon also beat their more illustrious rivals in La Liga earlier on this campaign and the Spanish Supercopa. Infact, Real haven’t beaten Atletico in their last five attempts, since defeating them in the Champions League final last May.

Speaking in an interview with fifa.com, Simeone said while Madrid fans are probably frustrated with him and his team, he gets a lot of respect for Madridistas when he bumps into them in the street.

“I imagine they’ve got mixed feelings. On the one hand I’m sure they don’t like me, yet on the other I get shown a lot of respect when I’m out on the street,” he stated.

And he added: “I get a lot of people coming up to me saying ‘I’m a Real Madrid fan, but I’d honestly like to congratulate you. I like the way your guys work and how much of a team they are’. I think that recently Atletico have shown something that people need in their everyday lives, which is energy.”

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Carlo Ancelotti has stated that no one can ever doubt Cristiano Ronaldo on the football field and that he’s the most prolific player he’s ever seen.

The 29-year-old has already netted an astonishing 36 goals in 30 appearances this season, and with half the season to go looks set to smash the 51 goals he scored last year. Last Monday, he picked up his second consecutive Ballon d’Or trophy beating Leo Messi and Manuel Neuer to the prize.

Speaking to reporters about his star man, the boss said: “Nobody can doubt Ronaldo. He’s the most prolific player I’ve ever seen. There’s nobody like him.”

In the interview, published by Marca, Ancelotti also went on to discuss the strengths of the current side and whether of not he thinks the squad needs to be added to in the transfer window this month.

“Coaching Madrid’s the easiest thing in the world, really easy. I have a team brimming with talent, an extremely well organised club, amazing fans,” he commented.

And he added: “I can rule out any new signings. Absolutely. We aren’t going to bring anyone in. Modric will be like a new signing when he’s fit again. We’re waiting to get Modric back, but the rest of the squad are fine. We have no injuries or other problems. Once Modric is fit the team will be back at its competitive best.”

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Inter Milan are about to offer Real Madrid a loan deal for Raphael Varane so the French defender would move to Italy for the second half of the season.

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport has revealed Roberto Mancini has asked Inter directors to sign a centre-back before the winter transfer window closes, and the Neroazzurri are hoping Los Blancos will be willing to let Varane go.

The 21-year-old has not succeeded to earn a regular spot in the starting eleven and he might be happy to spend a few months at a place where he could be the first choice.

Yet, Los Merengues don’t want to lose a single player as the crucial part of the season is approaching. Plus, with Pepe having recently suffered a rib injury, Varane will pair at centre-back with Sergio Ramos, so he has a good chance to convince Carlo Ancelotti that he’s ready to become a regular starter.

Carlo Ancelotti rubbished talks of Varane’s exit a few days ago following reports of a possible interest from Bayern Munich.

Chelsea are also interested in signing him, as Jose Mourinho is a self-confessed admirer of the Frenchman. Should Varane fail to dislodge Pepe or Ramos for the defence, Florentino Perez will have to convince him to stay, because he will have plenty of offers next summer.

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Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has hailed midfielder Isco and said he reminds him of himself when he was a young player.

The 23-year-old joined Los Blancos in the summer of 2013 from fellow La Liga outfit Malaga. He had a flying start to life in the Spanish capital, scoring on his debut. But he gradually lost his way last season, perhaps victim of Carlo Ancelotti’s preference for a 4-3-3 formation.

This campaign though, Isco has come back strongly and has established himself as a key member in the side have stepped in in the absence of Luka Modric. The Spain international has netted five goals in 17 league appearances and started five of Madrid’s six group games in the Champions League.

Talking to reporters about the player, Zidane, now head coach at Real Madrid Castilla, said: “He’s like me on a technical level. The fans love him, and he’s having a great time right now.”

The 1998 World Cup winner then went on to discuss his own future and whether he’d like to manage the first team one day.

He responded: “I feel really at home with Real Madrid. Would I like to manage the first team in the future? We’ll see. For the moment I’m with Castilla and I’m very happy with how things are.”

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Carlo Ancelotti has revealed winning the Champions League with AC Milan in 2003 is his proudest moment as a manager – and not lifting La Decima with Real Madrid.

The Los Blancos boss was asked about his coaching achievements after being inducted into Italy’s Hall of Fame on Monday. Ancelotti has had a hugely successful career as a manager, winning major honours with AC Milan, as well as coaching abroad with Chelsea, PSG and now Real Madrid – where he picked up trophies at each one.

But he told reporters his first Champions League win as a manager remains his favourite. AC Milan beat Juventus on penalties at Old Trafford in 2003 to give Ancelotti his first European Cup as a boss.

“I’ve been very fortunate in my career, both as a player and as a coach. I got to play for Sacchi’s Milan, and I’ve been really blessed as a manager, too,” he said.

He added: “If I had to single out one trophy it would be the Champions League I led Milan to against Juve in Manchester, because it was my first.”

The boss then went on to speak about his experiences in working in different countries, saying each one offers a new challenge.

“Every league is different and so your experiences are different, too. In England it’s very fast-paced and people are shown a lot of respect. The French league is very high-tempo and aggressive. Spain stands out for the love of good football, whereas I’d underline the defensive organisation and tactical know-how in Italy. I’ve had nothing but positive experiences.”

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