Odegaard's Liverpool trial recalled ahead of Sevilla reunion - "He stood out"

24 October 2023 , 13:24

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Odegaard's Liverpool trial recalled ahead of Sevilla reunion - "He stood out"

Former Liverpool winger Suso is set for a reunion with Martin Odegaard when Sevilla host Arsenal in the Champions League.

Suso joined Liverpool in 2010 as a teenager and was there when a 15-year-old Odegaard visited Merseyside to train with the squad four years later, with the Norwegian making trips to several top European clubs as he became the hottest young prospect in the sport.

Nine years on from his week at Melwood, Suso and Odegaard will share a pitch when Sevilla take on Arsenal face Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium today in a hugely important Champions League clash for both sides.

Reflecting on his brief stint training alongside the Arsenal captain, Suso told the Guardian : "A little blond kid. When I was at Liverpool, Odegaard came to try out with us for a week. It was that time when everyone wanted him.

"He trained with Madrid, with Liverpool and a few others. He stood out: left-footed, which I always notice more as a left-footer myself, hair like it is now. He had lots of ability. I don't think I've seen him since."

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Odegaard ended up joining Real Madrid instead of Liverpool, but made just 11 first-team appearances before joining Arsenal on a permanent deal in 2021 after initially impressing on loan.

And Suso, who enjoyed a stint at AC Milan after leaving Liverpool before joining Sevilla in 2020, has been impressed by Arsenal's recent progression under manager Mikel Arteta and admits he is "surprised" by how Odegaard has improved under the Spaniard's tutelage.

Sevilla star Suso trained alongside Odegaard when he visited Liverpool as a 15-year-old prospect (Getty Images Europe)

"They're a candidate to win the Champions League because of how they've been playing, the way they work, the coach," the 29-year-old added. "He's learned from Pep Guardiola, the best in the world, and they have [shared] concepts.

"I see a manager who motivates and I like the way they construct play, the different approaches: full-backs inside, full-backs outside. The way Arsenal press when they lose the ball is spectacular. They've played very good football for the last two years.

"I see Odegaard and I'm surprised by how he has improved. A coach has come who believed in him, took him under his wing and gave him lots of confidence and games and now he's the player he is."

Matthew Cooper