Van Gaal says Arsenal midfielder Odegaard should never have joined Real Madrid | OneFootball

Holland coach Louis van Gaal says Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard should never have joined Real Madrid as a young player.

Van Gaal was asked by TV2 which Norway player he would take for his Netherlands side with the exception of Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland.

Van Gaal responded: "I shall choose between and Odegaard and [Genk midfielder Kristian] Thorstvedt. Odegaard is very creative and has very good passing. He can play the ball where he wants.

"When the player demands the ball in a good position he can give the ball. And he's a team player. He stays a team player, that is very good."

Odegaard spent the early stages of his career trying to make an impact away from Real Madrid when opportunities in the Spanish capital were scarce.

Van Gaal believes Odegaard would have been better off moving to the Netherlands to develop as a teenager all those years ago, and picked out his former clubs Ajax and AZ Alkmaar as two ideal options.

"It is a simple answer. Ajax would be the best education," Van Gaal added. "AZ is also a very nice place for young Norwegian players to go to."