Gladbach was Odegaard´s next preference

Borussia Monchengladbach’s head scout has claimed if Martin Odegaard had not signed for Real Madrid he would have ended up at Borussia Park.

Odegaard’s signature was arguably the most desired in European football during the January transfer window, as the Norwegian teenager was linked with the likes of Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Liverpool and Real.

Eventually, Odegaard moved to the Santiago Bernabeu from Stromsgodset but, according to Danish scout Ove Flindt Berg, Gladbach were set to steal the 16-year-old phenomenon from under the noses of Bayern et al.

“I am absolutely sure that if he hadn’t ended up at Real Madrid then he would have chosen us at Gladbach,” the 66-year-old told DR.

“We were so far down the road. No one really knows that.

“We could not compete with Real Madrid. That’s the way it is.”

Berg, who played for AaB in his native Denmark before stints abroad with Karlsruher and San Jose Earthquakes in the 1970s and 1980s, added that he was convinced of Odegaard’s talent after one look at the young attacking midfielder.

“I only needed to see Martin Odegaard one time. After that, I visited him at his parents’ home three times and the club also had another representative go up and visit him,” he said.

Odegaard made his La Liga debut for Real in the final round of the 2014-15 season, coming off the bench in a 7-3 victory over Grenada, while he has made six appearances for Norway’s senior team.