Real Madrid Castilla suspicious of Odegaard

SPECIAL REPORT: The club's second team had mixed feelings over the Norwegian being treated like a household name following his January signing

Martin Odegaard has endured a tough start to life at Real Madrid and we understands that members of the club's Castilla squad were unhappy with the level of publicity generated by his arrival in the Spanish capital.

The 16-year-old is widely regarded as one of the game's most exciting young talents, with the European champions' decision to sign the much-coveted attacking midfielder from Stromsgodset for €3 million in January making headlines across Europe.

That fanfare was greeted with a mixed reception by Los Blancos' second team, who have received nothing like the same level of attention as they bid to force their way into the Santiago Bernabeu side's senior squad.

Odegaard is already a full Norway international but is yet to make a first-team appearance for his new club and has even struggled for regular appearances in their reserves, with the youngster managing just one goal in five outings thus far.

While international duty forced Odegaard to miss one recent game, coach Zinedine Zidane opted to leave him out of their following fixture for tactical reasons. Castilla had lost their previous four games with the teenager in the starting XI but won both games without him.

That said, Odegaard is doing his best to adapt to life on and off the pitch by having four Spanish lessons a week as he bids to improve his communication with his new team-mates.

Furthemore, the club remain unconcerned over his development, given his tender years and the fact that this is his first move away from his homeland.

Carlo Ancelotti and his staff also recognise the added difficulty that he has faced in training with both the first team and Castilla squad - he works with Zidane and his team just once a week.

A Madrid source also dismissed any notion of regret at Odegaard's arrival, adding that he is clearly "a very talented player" and he also appears likely to start against Tudelano on Sunday.