Mikel Arteta's comments on Martin Odegaard that stuck the boot in on Real Madrid

Martin Odegaard's relationship with Real Madrid is nothing if not complicated.

Plucked from obscurity as a teenager in Norway and thrust into the white-hot spotlight of the Santiago Bernabeu, it never truly worked out for Odegaard in the Spanish capital. He spent six years on the books as a Real Madrid player, but in that time was sent out on loan elsewhere on four separate occasions.

Throughout his time with Los Blancos, the rumour mill would regularly link Odegaard with a permanent move away, given it never really felt like he was wanted by the Real Madrid hierarchy. And yet, things came to a head during his fourth loan move in early 2021, which saw him join Arsenal, when the talented midfielder was reluctant to rule out staying in North London on a permanent basis.

Odegaard's stance angered those at the top of the food chain at the Bernabeu, but it was comments from Gunners manager Mikel Arteta that really stuck the boot in. The Spaniard seemed to go on the charm offensive and publicly waxed lyrical over the playmaker with remarks many saw as a not-so-subtle attempt to turn the Norwegian's head.

The Arsenal boss told the media how he felt Odegaard had the potential to become one of the best players in the world. The remarks are likely to have been exactly what the midfielder needed to hear after years out in the cold with the Spanish giants.

"Well, he's got the potential [to be one of the best]. I followed him very closely when he was at Real Sociedad and he was really impressive over there for long periods," Arteta explained. "He had a really successful season over there and that's one of the reasons why I was so convinced that he's a player for us.

"He's a player that I really like and, as you say, still has huge potential to become even better. All positive from my first conversations with him. He's a really focused and humble boy who was really keen to join.

"He's a really nice guy, the players like him, the staff like him, he's easy-going, a really hard worker and I've been very impressed with his leadership. He looks a little bit calm but on the pitch, he's got something about him."

If the lavish praise really was a ploy to try and persuade Odegaard to stay at Arsenal on a permanent basis - it worked. Six months later, he put pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Gunners, but few could have predicted just how high the Norway international's stock would rise in the seasons that followed.

In the summer of 2022, aged just 23 and having played just one full season as a permanent Gunners player, Odegaard was entrusted with the role of club captain. If some feared he would be weighed down by the armband, on the contrary, he has since gone on to establish himself as one of the best-attacking midfielders in the Premier League.

The 2022/23 season saw Arsenal spring an unlikely title tilt, topping the table for the majority of the season only to fall short at the latter stages. Their wait for Champions League qualification was finally over and it was Odegaard who was awarded the club's Player of the Season gong.

More than two-and-a-half-years on from Arteta's assessment, Odegaard is on course to hit the heights his Arsenal manager predicted he would. Guiding the Gunners to a league title this term would certainly cement his status as one of the best around.