Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has become one of the Premier League’s standout stars under Mikel Arteta – but the Norway playmaker was once on ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s radar
The signing of Martin Odegaard is one of the most important factors in Mikel Arteta’s revolution at Arsenal. Odegaard first arrived in north London as a fresh-faced 22-year-old, on loan from Real Madrid, back in January 2021.
The Gunners were at rock bottom at the time, with Arteta in need of a creative focal point to build his team around. Odegaard impressed enough to secure a permanent move that summer, after which his leadership, tactical intelligence and technical skills came to show, earning him the captain’s armband ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Odegaard’s importance to Arteta’s project extends well beyond his impressive tally of 31 goals and 23 assists in the Premier League for the Gunners. His recent spell on the sidelines with an injury has underscored just how much Arsenal leans on the Norwegian captain both in attack and to defend from the front. Despite revealing earlier this week that he is “getting closer” to making a comeback, the top of the table Premier League clash with Liverpool this Sunday will come too soon for his return.
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Arteta is rightly lauded for seizing the opportunity to sign Odegaard three years ago and unlocking his potential when his wonderkid status seemed to be waning. But it’s well worth noting that Liverpool’s own iconic manager – Jurgen Klopp – had once set his sights on the midfield maestro.
Before Odegaard’s stunning switch from Stromsgodset to the Santiago Bernabeu, the then-Borussia Dortmund head coach attempted to secure the 15-year-old sensation. Like many top-tier European clubs that showed interest, Klopp couldn’t sway Odegaard away from the enticing prospect of joining Real Madrid.
Klopp, speaking in 2022 ahead of a clash with Arsenal, said: “I spoke to him when he was 15 in Norway and the whole world wanted to sign him. He became the player everybody expected at that time.”
Klopp had, in similar vein, revealed his admiration for Odegaard earlier that week. To the delight of Arsenal fans everywhere, Manchester United were another club who failed to sign Odegaard – on two occasions.
United’s chase for the midfielder started when he was only 14. In 2013, under David Moyes‘ management, they invited Odegaard to their Carrington training ground. Despite recognising his obvious talents, they opted to wait another year to monitor his progress, a decision they would later regret.
Meanwhile, Odegaard quickly rose to prominence as one of Europe’s most coveted youngsters. At 15, he had already become Norway’s youngest senior international debutant and was being pursued by some of the biggest clubs on the planet.
Among those vying for his signature were Bayern Munich, led by Pep Guardiola, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Celtic, and Arsenal. Arsene Wenger, the Gunners’ former boss, recalled that they had “fought like mad” to secure Odegaard, who showed promise reminiscent of a youthful Cesc Fabregas during a training session with the first team.
Barcelona also showed interest and invited Odegaard, who idolised Lionel Messi, to watch a home game against Cordoba in 2014. He was deemed so good that then United manager Louis van Gaal was sent to Norway to meet him face-to-face.
Van Gaal’s task was to convince Odegaard that United was his best choice, but he was taken aback when the young player insisted on training with the first team from the very start. Odegaard was eager to learn from the best immediately but Van Gaal declined and the deal fell through.
While United have only faltered since then, Liverpool – even after Klopp’s departure in the summer and Arne Slot’s appointment – have gone from strength to strength. The Reds currently lead the Premier League table after eight matches, four points in front of Arsenal ahead of their pivotal Emirates Stadium clash.
