Arsenal-linked Odegaard offered transfer advice by Ceballos

Struggling for minutes this season, the Norwegian playmaker has supposedly asked for an exit from the Santiago Bernabeu.

Dani Ceballos insists “young players need to play regularly” as he encourages Martin Odegaard to consider making a move away from Real Madrid.

After impressing at Real Sociedad in 2019-20, Odegaard cut short his two-year loan and returned to Real Madrid at the request of Zinedine Zidane.

The talented midfielder, who chipped in seven goals and nine assists across all competitions last season, was expected to become a mainstay in the Los Blancos team – but things are not going as per plans for him.

Opportunities have been hard to come by for the 22-year-old who has made a mere three starts in La Liga so far.

It was reported that he has handed in a transfer request in order to force his way out of the club in search of consistent playing time elsewhere.

Odegaard has since been tipped to follow in the footsteps of Ceballos and join Arsenal on loan.

“Young players need to play regularly,” Ceballos, who knows what it feels to be out of favor at Real Madrid, told EFE.

“At Real Madrid, I needed to know that I would have equal opportunities. I was obsessed with playing again. I wasn’t getting minutes, but I realized it was best to work and reverse the situation and be important [with another club]. If I do this [go on loan], I’ll play again. It couldn’t have been any clearer.

“I can tell you what happened to me at Madrid. I don’t know exactly what will happen with Martin Odegaard, but it is obvious that any player who wants to succeed at Madrid is going to grab the opportunity he has.”