AS Roma nearly signed Martin Odegaard
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ByEurosport
Updated 13/02/2015 at 10:21 GMT
AS Roma sporting director Walter Sabbatini has revealed that the club tried to sign Martin Odegaard back in 2011.
Real Madrid's new teenage signing Martin Odegaard from Norwegian club Stromsgodset holds up his jersey during his presentation at the Valdebebas training grounds in Madrid (Reuters)
Image credit: Reuters
The Norwegian international, who moved to Real Madrid during the January transfer window, could have moved to the Italian capital in 2011 when he was 12-years-old.
However, Sabbatini told Gazzetta dello Sport that it was partly his fault that the Giallorossi failed to get the deal done.
"During my first year in Rome we became aware of Odegaard," he said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I made a big mistake. It was partly my fault, but also that of the environment and the coach, both of which played a part.
"We were very close to Odegaard, long before he went to Real Madrid, but ultimately it did not happen."
Real signed Odegaard for €3 million euros (£2.3m) from Strømsgodset to play in Real Madrid’s Castilla B team, with a view to training with the first team initially.
But his progress appears to have been accelerated after he was named in Real Madrid’s 25-man squad for the Champions League.
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