Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has revealed that he learned "to not give a f***" after his unsuccessful spell at Real Madrid.
In 2015, the Norway international was one of the most highly sought-after young talents in Europe, and Real were quick to pounce, signing the then-16-year-old on a €2.8 million (R53 million) deal from Stromsgodset.
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He was immediately sent to the club's Castilla reserve side with the hope that he would break into the first team in the near future.
However, things did not go according to plan for the then-teenager as he was sent out on loan four times in the years that followed, to Heerenveen, Vitesse, Real Sociedad, and Arsenal, whom he would join on a permanent basis in August 2021.
With many labelling Odegaard's move to Spain from Norway a flop, Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti wrote in his 2016 book, Quiet Leadership, that the attacking midfielder's transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu was simply a "PR stunt" by Real president Florentino Perez.
"When Florentino buys a Norwegian footballer, you simply have to accept it," an excerpt from the book read, according to Bleacher Report.
"Furthermore, the president decided that he would play three games with the first team as a public relations exercise.
"He could be the best player in the world, but I don't care because he was not a player who I asked for. That signing was to do with PR."
The playmaker would go on to impress during his loan spell at the Emirates Stadium, prompting the Gunners to sign him permanently on a four-year contract for a fee of €35 million (R666 million).
Having since established himself as one of Arsenal's most important players and been made captain by manager Mikel Arteta, Odegaard has now lifted the lid on his underwhelming spell in Madrid.
"I stopped playing with the spark that was typical of my game. I went a bit too safe for a time," he told The Players' Tribune.
"I was worrying more about not making mistakes than actually playing my game.
"And my game was always about making a difference. Playing the difficult pass.
"I can understand why it happened now.
"I was still a little kid, but I've learned that you have to be ruthless.
"You have to not give a f***. You have to show the real you on the pitch."
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This season, the 24-year-old has already scored eight times and assisted a further six goals in 19 Premier League appearances for the Gunners, who are top of the table, five points ahead of reigning champions Manchester City.
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