Odegaard and Kubo, from illusion to a possible mistake

When Real Madrid moved ahead of the European giants in 2014 to sign Martin Odegaard, nothing foretold that seven years later the player would be more of an outsider than an insider at Santiago Bernabeu. His signing when he was just a 16-year-old astonished the Old Continent, as it was assumed that Odegaard would be one of the world's greatest players in a few years' time.

Now 22, the midfielder has failed to live up to expectations. He made his debut in 2014-15 under Ancelotti in the first team, but spent 2015-16 without making any noise in Castilla. Two loan spells at Heerenveen had already begun to point to disappointment in relation to the youngster, who woke up in 2018-19 in the ranks of Vitesse. In the Eredivisie, Odegaard had his best season to date, with 11 goals and 12 assists in 39 appearances.

There were green shoots, but Real Madrid are light years ahead of Vitesse. Odegaard was obliged to take a step forward. And he did at Real Sociedad, where, despite dropping his numbers and going from strength to strength, he made an interesting 2019-20. He appeared in 36 games, scored seven goals and provided nine assists.

His good performances in San Sebastian pushed Real Madrid to give him his first serious chance in 2020-21, but Zidane hardly counted on him (nine games) and, when he did, the Norwegian contributed nothing. A subsequent loan spell at Arsenal (20 appearances, two goals and two assists) didn't do much good either. Ancelotti has not been enamoured with his football either and right now he is more out than in, overtaken even by Isco and with the question of whether he will leave on loan or on transfer.

History repeats itself with Kubo

Something similar to what happened with Odegaard has happened with Takefusa Kubo. The former Barca youth player was released after making a name for himself in Japan at just 18 years of age and Real Madrid made a strong bid to sign him, offering him a big contract.

The reality of the Japanese player in the Spanish League is far from what 'Los Blancos' team had imagined. His first season, with Mallorca, was quite positive, although the Balearic club ended up being relegated despite his four goals and four assists in 36 games.

The 2020-21 season was even more disappointing for Kubo and for the club. He did not fit in at Villarreal and a desperate loan spell was sought at Getafe, where the midfielder also floundered. Now, although his performance at the Olympic Games was good, it seems that he will return, now much more mature, to Mallorca.

The truth is that he is far from counting for Ancelotti, although, in his case, he is still 20 years old and Real Madrid believe that he can explode at any moment. Be that as it may, his present, like Odegaard's, is far removed from the promising future that Real Madrid had once imagined.