Real Madrid’s signing of Martin Odegaard was a ‘PR stunt’, claims Carlo Ancelotti in new book
Carlo Ancelotti has sensationally revealed the deal for Norwegian wonderkid, Martin Odegaard was a “PR stunt”.
Real Madrid beat a host of Europe’s top clubs to the then 16-year-old’s signature in January 2015, but he has failed to live up to the hype since.
And the man who brought Odegaard to the Bernabeu explains it was a decision taken above his head.
In his recent book, Quiet Leadership, Ancelotti wrote: “When [president] Florentino [Perez] buys a Norwegian footballer, you simply have to accept it.
“Furthermore, the president decided that he would have to play three games for the first team as part of a PR exercise.”
Ancelotti insists Odegaard hasn’t wasted his potential, but he just wasn’t interested in signing the attacking midfielder from Stromsgodset.
The Bayern Munich boss added: “He could become the best player in the world but I don’t care because it wasn’t me who asked for him.
“It was a signing made for PR purposes.”
Can Odegaard recover? Or is he just the latest built-up wonderkid to flop?
SunSport looks back at five stars whose light dimmed too soon.
Nii Lamptey
‘The Ghanaian Pele’.
Lamptey overcame a terrible childhood where he was often beaten and kicked out of the house by his alcoholic father — and found refuge in football.
He moved to Anderlecht at 15, before dazzling fans with his flashy skills at Dutch heavyweights, PSV Eindhoven.
Ron Atkinson thought he’d pulled off a real coup when he tempted the then 20-year-old to Aston Villa in 1994.
The midfielder netted just three times for the Villans — all coming in both League Cup semi-final legs against Wigan — before moving on to Coventry.
Lamptey represented another nine teams around the world on his way to retirement in 2008.
In a further sad twist, Italian agent, Antonio Caliendo, who brought the Ghanaian to Europe,
was described as "a shady character who held Lamptey's transfer rights like a slave owner held his slave" by the player's trainer.
Kerlon
The Brazilian shot to prominence for the ‘seal dribble’ — where he ran while continuously bouncing the ball on his head.
Inter Milan saw enough to bring him over to Italy in 2008 but, because of complicated contract negotiations surrounding non-EU players, he signed for Chievo on loan.
Kerlon only made four appearances that season due to a persistent knee injury.
A year later, he joined Ajax on loan — but only appeared for the youth sides.
He spent the following seasons in his native Brazil before definitively being sold by Inter in 2012.
Still only 24, Kerlon signed for Japanese side Fujieda MYFC where he found some form — scoring nine goals in 22 appearances over two years.
He currently plays for Brazil second tier side, Villa Nova.
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Freddy Adu
The ultimate failed prodigy.
Ghanaian-born American, Adu, was billed as the 'Michael Jordan of soccer’ as he became the youngest athlete ever to sign a professional contract — at 14.
And became the youngest goal scorer, netting just a year later.
Manchester United gave him a two-week trial in 2006 but it was cut short a day early.
Benfica became the first European side to take a punt when they signed the then 18-year-old in 2007 but he only made 11 appearances for the Eagles, amidst loan spells at Monaco, Belenenses, Aris and Caykur Rizespor.
At just 22, he returned to the US with Philadelphia Union.
But he moved to Brazil two years later before spells in Serbia and Finland.
Still just 27, Adu is now at Tampa Bay Rowdies in the US second tier.
As a sign of just how low his stock has fallen, he was reduced to advertising ready meals on Twitter.
John Bostock
The midfielder became embroiled in a bitter tribunal after Tottenham thought they had secured the hottest property in English football from Crystal Palace in 2008.
Bostock eventually did complete his signing to White Hart Lane but first Harry Redknapp then Andre Villas-Boas continuously overlooked the starlet.
And he spent time on loan at Brentford, Hull, Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon and Toronto FC before permanently moving to Belgian second division side Royal Antwerp FC in 2013 without making a league appearance for Spurs.
His impressive showing led to a move to Oud-Heverlee Leuven.
A seemingly down-to-earth lad who didn’t enjoy drinking or partying, it’s difficult to see where it went wrong for Bostock.
Still only 24, there was still hope he could fulfil his potential but, despite having declared his international allegiance to Trinidad & Tobago, he’s yet to win an international cap.
Ravel Morrison
Unlike Bostock, it’s much clearer where the problems lie here.
Sir Alex Ferguson is reported to have labelled Morrison “the best player I have seen at that age”.
There was so much expectation surrounding the then 18-year-old when he made his United debut in 2011.
However, Morrison couldn’t release himself from the shackles of his personal demons which affected his on-pitch performances.
He joined West Ham in 2012 and, under Sam Allardyce showed glimpses of his talent with rumours he could make the 2014 World Cup squad.
However, by that time, he had already been shipped out on loan to Birmingham, QPR and Cardiff.
Morrison hasn’t quite disappeared off the face of the earth just yet.
But three appearances in two years at Lazio suggests he’s not far off.