'Odegaard shouldn't join Real Madrid'

The 16-year-old has been strongly tipped to move to the Santiago Bernabeu but has been advised not to by one of the club's former stars

Michael Laudrup has urged Norway teenager Martin Odegaard to spurn the advances of Real Madrid and instead move to the Eredivisie.

The 16-year-old is one of the hottest prospects in European football and according to reports across Europe looks set to join reigning Champions League holders Real Madrid.

However, Laudrup, who played for Madrid for two seasons after moving to the Santiago Bernabeu from Barcelona in 1994, has advised the teenager against moving to Spain so young.

He told Merkur: “Odegaard? I'm not entirely convinced that joining a club like Madrid would be the right move. He is 16-years-old, I cannot imagine seeing him playing right now for Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. If he were my son, I would advise him to go to Holland.”

Odegaard burst on to the scene in July when he made his league debut for Norwegian first division side Stromsgodset against Aalesunds last April at the age of 15.

In August he then became the youngest player to win a cap for Norway when he was named in the squad to face the United Arab Emirates, before playing the whole 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw.

As well as Real Madrid, Odegaard has also been linked with European heavyweights Manchester United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich.