Ahead of facing Porto in the Champions League, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard reveals his initial hopes for a long-term Real Madrid career and the unpredictable path that led him to North London.

On the eve of Arsenal‘s Champions League match against Porto, Martin Odegaard reflected on his departure from Real Madrid.

While he initially envisioned a long-term career at Real Madrid without loans, he acknowledges the unpredictable nature of football.

“I always trusted that I would play important games and the Champions League,” Odegaard said. “Although football doesn’t always go as you expect.

“When I was at Real Madrid, the plan was not going on loan, but that’s football and that’s life.”

Odegaard joined Real Madrid at the young age of 16, amidst interest from Arsenal and Arsene Wenger at the time, but struggled to break into the first team.

He was sent on multiple loan spells to the Netherlands and a successful stint at Real Sociedad.

Despite his success at Real Sociedad, he again found limited opportunities at Real Madrid.

This led to another loan at Arsenal, where he eventually secured a permanent transfer and has become captain and is loving life.

“You can’t think too much about the past but obviously you want to keep building your own history,” he said when asked about Arsenal’s history in the Champions League.

“We want to do some amazing things with this team and that’s our goal, that’s our focus, to focus on us at the moment. It’s something really nice to play for, to go through in this tournament.

“It’s a big goal and a big dream for all the players playing in football today, to go far in this competition so hat’s a massive motivation for all of us and that’s what we’re playing for.”