Real Madrid have included teenager Martin Odegaard in their official squad for the Champions League’s knockout stages, with the Norway international set to become the youngest player ever to appear in the competition if he features in the last 16 tie against Schalke later this month.
Odegaard, who turned 16 in December, completed his move to the Santiago Bernabéu from Stromsgodset last month on a three-and-a-half year deal. He was pictured training with Zinedine Zidane’s Castilla team on Tuesday but, as revealed on the day of his unveiling by club director Emilio Butragueño, it is intended that the attacking midfielder will also spend time training with Carlo Ancelotti’s senior squad.
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Odegaard has impressed so much in his first week at the club that he will be inlcuded in their List A of 25 players eligible to feature in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Under current rules, only players who are under the age of 21 and have been at a club for more than two years can be included on the reserve List B.
Odegaard made his debut for Castilla on Wednesday, scoring the first goal in a friendly against Chinese side Beijing Guoan.
Real Madrid travel to Gelsenkirchen for the first leg against Schalke on 17 February, meaning that Odegaard could surpass the current record for the youngest player ever to appear in the Champions League if he plays. That is currently held by former Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro, who was 16 years and 87 days when he played for Anderlecht against Steaua Bucharest in 1994.
