Borussia Monchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl has told TV3 Sport in Denmark that they attempted to sign Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard in the summer.
Liverpool were also linked with the 17 year old before transfer deadline day as Real Madrid looked to offload the Norwegian starlet on loan to give the player more game time. It soon became apparent however that it would contravene FIFA rules to loan out a player under the age of 18 and his move to French club Rennes subsequently collapsed. Eberl was quoted as saying that Gladbach wanted to bring in Odegaard but there was a lack of desire from the player to make the move happen:
“We could not convince him and his father that it would be best for him to start his professional career at our club. Where his talent could be promoted and developed and where he would have had more chances to play at the highest level”
Odegaard does however turn 18 in December and will be available to be loaned out in the January transfer window. Whether Gladbach, Rennes or even Liverpool make a move for the youngster, we will have to wait and see. Odegaard has been consistently linked with a move to Anfield as he considered moving to Anfield before his switch to Spain. His agent and father were said to be keen on the player moving to the Reds.
