Arsenal's hopes of signing loan star Martin Odegaard on a permanent deal appear to be getting slimmer by the day, but there could be hope for another loan move.
The Gunners have been blown away by the Norwegian midfielder since he joined on a loan deal in January, almost immediately deciding they wanted to keep him around.
Arsenal were told Odegaard would be expected back in the Spanish capital after his loan spell, but that has not stopped them from putting together a plan to try and keep him.
The Gunners are expected to make a move of some kind this summer, but they know they face an uphill battle given Los Blancos see Odegaard as a 'fundamental piece' of their future.
The one hope Arsenal had was the Zinedine Zidane factor.
Odegaard also impressed out on loan last season, putting in excellent performances for Real Sociedad and helping them qualify for the Europa League.
And with another loan move on the cards, he decided to stay at Real Madrid, lured by the idea of being a significant part of Zidane's plans ahead of this season.
But he again found himself watching from the outside, making just three La Liga starts before handing in a loan request.
Zidane wasn't best pleased with that request, attempting to convince Odegaard to 'stay and fight for his place', but the 22-year-old was having none of it.
That's when he joined Arsenal on a loan deal, and he hasn't looked back, already making 14 appearances for the Gunners across all competitions, despite some small injury issues.
Ahead of this summer, it's clear Real Madrid want Odegaard back, but the midfielder may be put off by the presence of Zidane, who has disappointed him before.
Odegaard admits he still 'dreams' of playing for Real Madrid, but he is a player who values game time, as shown by his loan request during the winter transfer window.
But those dreams could be stifled by Zidane, who clearly favours Toni Kroos and veteran Luka Modric in his midfield, ahead of the defensive-minded Casemiro.
Under Zidane, Odegaard may have to wait even longer to get his Real Madrid opportunity, and it seems the French boss is going nowhere, despite his contract expiring in 2022.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez recently said: "I can't imagine Real Madrid next year without Zidane.
"People said that I was going to fire Zidane after the loss to Shakhtar in Ukraine. That was a lie."
That could mean Odegaard stays away for another season, even if Real Madrid see him as part of their long-term plans, the question is whether Arsenal can convince the Spanish giants, who are reportedly keen to get their midfielder back ahead of next term, regardless of whether he is seen as a regular starter just yet.
The Gunners may also have to convince Odegaard. The midfielder may have enjoyed his time at the Emirates Stadium, but in the absence of European qualification, he may yet have better options on the table ahead of next season.
