Odegaard: Real Madrid have been clear, they want me back

Martin Odegaard left Real Madrid in the January transfer window in order to join Arsenal on a six-month loan deal, but the Norwegian playmaker has made clear that he will be at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu next season.

Rumours had begun to swirl that Arsenal may look to keep Odegaard in north London on a permanent basis, but Los Blancos have informed the 22-year-old that he is in Carlo Ancelotti's plans.

"The situation is that I am a Real Madrid player and I have to go back there in a week and a half," Odegaard said on the Norwegian television channel TV 2.

"Real Madrid have been clear: they want me back. So, I will have to travel there when pre-season starts.

"It's clear that my dream has always been to play there [at Real Madrid]. I've been at the club for more than six years now, and that's always been my goal."

Odegaard made nine appearances for Real Madrid in the 2020/21 campaign before making the switch to Arsenal, where he went on to play a further 20 matches.