The one impressive record Martin Odegaard still holds at Real Madrid despite leaving for Arsenal years ago

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Martin Odegaard has been a star for Arsenal since joining them from Real Madrid.

The 26-year-old spent over six years on the Galacticos’ books, having joined them as a 16-year-old all the way back in 2015.

Odegaard was sent out on loan on four occasions. Two of them were to the Netherlands, once to Real Sociedad in Spain and finally to Arsenal here in England.

Following his last loan spell, the Gunners turned that move into a permanent deal, and Odegaard has mostly been fantastic since.

Although his time at Real Madrid wasn’t great, Odegaard managed to enter his name into the club’s history books, and a record he set stands to this day.

The record Martin Odegaard still holds at Real Madrid

Odegaard’s time at Real Madrid cannot be viewed as successful.

The Norway international had the world at his feet back when he was 15. He travelled to multiple big clubs across Europe to find the best team for him.

Odegaard met with Arsene Wenger and Arsenal too, but he chose to sign for Real Madrid in the end, a little over a month after his 16th birthday.

In his early days there, Odegaard impressed Cristiano Ronaldo and many others, but the Norwegian played a total of just 11 games for the Real Madrid senior side.

The Spanish giants didn’t put up much of a fight when Arsenal went in to sign him either, so it was clear that they did not want him.

Despite that, Odegaard holds a record at Real Madrid that nobody has even come close to breaking – even though it has been nearly four years since he left them permanently for Arsenal.

On May 23rd, 2015, Odegaard became the youngest player in Real Madrid’s history to make an appearance for the senior side. Rene Petit was the previous owner of that record, and he held it for over 99 years.

To set the record, at the age of 16 years, 05 months and 06 days, Odegaard replaced Ronaldo in the 58th minute of a game against Getafe that Real Madrid won 7-3.

Has Martin Odegaard played against Real Madrid before?

Real Madrid were Odegaard’s first club in one of Europe’s big five leagues.

The Spanish side sent him out on loan to Heerenveen first and then to Vitesse in the Eredevisie. Then, Odegaard joined Real Sociedad on loan.

During his time at San Sebastian, the Nowegian played three games against Real Madrid.

In Spain, there is no rule that prohibits a loan player from playing against his parent club unless there is an agreement between the two sides beforehand.

There was no such thing between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad, so Odegaard played against his parent club during his spell there.

The now-Arsenal captain lost both games in La Liga, but in the quarter-final of the Copa del Rey, he scored and helped Real Sociedad beat Real Madrid 4-3.

Hopefully, Odegaard can do that again, this time with Arsenal in the Champions League.