Arsenal are interested in bringing Martin Ødegaard on loan from Real Madrid six years after the Norwegian midfielder opted for the Spaniards following a trial with the Gunners.

When Martin Ødegaard was just 16, Arsenal tried to sign him from Strømsgodset and took the player on trial.

That wasn’t anything special, the attacking midfielder trialled at a host of clubs across Europe. Now 22, Ødegaard made his international debut at just 15. It wasn’t hard to see why so many wanted him.

In the end, he made the mistake of opting to go to Real Madrid too early rather than a smaller club where he would have had more chance of playing regularly. He cost them just £2.52m.

To date, Ødegaard has played just 11 times for the Real Madrid first team, totalling just 489 minutes.

Arsenal are now reportedly in negotiations with Real Madrid over a loan deal for the player, hopeful that the relationship built over the past two seasons due to Dani Ceballos’ loan will help them.

Ødegaard is also wanted by Real Sociedad, where he spent time on loan, and Sevilla.

Dani Ceballos on Martin Ødegaard

“Young players need to play regularly,’ Ceballos told EFE recently. “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 realised 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.”

Thankfully, it seems any over for Isco is off. The player, who had worse stats last season than Mesut Ozil, including when it came to tackling, does not want to move to London after his wife gave birth.