Edu Gaspar, celebrated as the best director at the 2023 Golden Boy awards, reflects on Martin Odegaard’s journey from Real Madrid to Arsenal, highlighting the effective nurturing of young talent at Arsenal under his leadership.
Edu Gaspar, Arsenal’s Sporting Director, has expressed his belief that Real Madrid could have maximised Martin Odegaard’s potential more effectively.
This statement came after he was honoured with the award for the best director at the 2023 Golden Boy ceremony, hosted by Tuttosport.
During the event, Gaspar was questioned about Odegaard’s success at Arsenal compared to his time at Real Madrid.
He explained, “There are players who work well on one team and poorly on another. It depends on good moments, opportunities… our strategy is and was to sign young players, and he fit. He came on loan and then we decided to buy him.”
Edu pointed out the long-term interest Arsenal had in Odegaard and their patience in his development. “We have been following Martin for many years and perhaps we have had the patience that others have not. Now he is one of our captains, enjoying himself, and is one of the recognisable faces of our team,” he added.
Odegaard’s journey to Arsenal was not straightforward.
He was initially finding his feet in Spain with Real Sociedad while on loan. However, Real Madrid recalled him early, but upon his return, he struggled for playing time at Santiago Bernabeu, managing just 367 minutes before being loaned out to Arsenal.
There, Odegaard flourished, eventually becoming one of the team’s key players and captains.
The Golden Boy award ceremony, which took place on Monday night, saw Bellingham and Linda Caicedo winning the main prizes for 2023.
The event also celebrated individuals with Arsenal ties, as Cesc Fabregas, a former Gunner, received the Golden Boy Career Award.
Edu’s year as Arsenal’s technical director has been noteworthy, involving major signings like Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, David Raya, Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho, and Leandro Trossard.
Significant sales were also made, including Folarin Balogun to AS Monaco and Granit Xhaka to Bayer Leverkusen.
Additionally, he secured new contracts with several key players, including Odegaard, William Saliba, and Bukayo Saka, with more in progress.
Edu’s successful year is partly attributed to the financial support from the owners and Mikel Arteta’s management, which has made Arsenal an attractive destination for players.
As for Fabregas, he won the Golden Boy award in 2006 as an Arsenal player and has had a successful 20-year career in senior football, winning numerous club and country trophies.
His recent award recognises his overall career achievements following his retirement announcement.