Top 5 young footballers to look out for in 2016
The year 2016 is set to bring us many things to be excited for: the Olympics in Rio, X-Men Apocalypse, the US Presidential campaign... the list goes on. As a football fan, it seems there is not too much to look forward to (albeit a top four Leicester finish). PSG will romp to the Ligue Un title, Bayern will get the title with a couple of weeks to go, Juventus will probably win the Scudetto, and Barcelona will defend the champions league (note: not all of these are guaranteed to happen. But they probably will.) But all kings must fall, so as the likes of Xabi Alonso, Franceso Totti and Zlatan Ibrahimovic enter the twilight years of their careers, new young stars must take their place. Which youngsters will impress the most in 2016?
#5 Martin degaard
Hailing from Norway, Ødegaard was born in December 1998 to a football ll family; his father, Hans Erik Ødegaad, was a midfielder for Strømsgodset. Martin himself played for the club, where he debuted at the tender age of 15. He was a local hero, his pace, jaw-dropping skill and intelligence attracting interest from a host of European powerhouses.
Despite interest from Liverpool, Southampton, the two Manchester sides and even Barcelona, Ødegaard donned the famous white shirt and signed with Real Madrid.
Despite a slightly anticlimactic start to life at Real Madrid, there is no doubting the budding Swedish teenager’s footballing adroitness. Ødegaard is currently playing under Zidane’s Castilla team, where he is developing himself into an exceptional player.
He trains with the first squad, in the mix with players like Ronaldo and Gareth Bale who will surely educate the youngster as to how to become the very best. His extreme talent has given him an international call-up, representing his country at the age of just 15.
What a 2015 it has been for Martin Ødegaard. From studying for secondary school exams to collecting colossal paychecks in Madrid, his life has been turned on its head. Many say that the move to such a big club like Madrid would harm his development and that a move to a club such as Southampton that are renowned for nurturing talent would be more beneficial.
Perhaps they are right. But it’s wrong to say that his career is ruined; he has acres of time to turn it around. Perhaps a loan move away from the Bernabeu will do the trick for young Odegaard. 2016 could be a massive three hundred and sixty-six days for the young Norwegian.