[THREAD]: Martin Ødegaard is Real Madrid’s only addition to the squad for 2020/21, but how will he fit in, and how will he be used?

Firstly lets look at where Ø plays and his strengths:

Positions:
-AM, RW, RCM.

Strengths:
-Vision/passing.
-Close control.
-Dribbling out of tight spaces.
-Defensive work rate.
-Set pieces.
-Through balls.

Positionally, Ødegaard can fit into the following set ups:

-10 in a diamond.
-10 in a 4-2-3-1.
-8 in a midfield three.
-Right wing.

Some his key attacking statistics from the 19/20 season:

-Appearances: 37.
-Goals: 9.
-Assists: 6.
-Dribbles p90: 2.24 (Top 10 in Spain)
-Chances created p90: 2 (Top 5)
-Progressive passes p90: 8.86 (1st for u24 midfielders)

In our opinion, the most sustainable setup for big games would be the 4-3-3 with Fede Valverde in midfield and Martin Ødegaard as the RW.

This would allow an interchange, with Ødegaard being able to naturally drift inwards, and allow Fede to move wider as he does so at times.

As can be seen in his stats, Ødegaard is already an exceptional playmaker and will add much needed creativity to Madrid.

Him and Hazard will lift the attack to the next level. Both are high volume creators and superb dribblers, and could be the key to unlocking deep blocks.

Ødegaard excels at threading balls through the lines, and his high volume creativity will be very helpful to an attack that scored just 70 goals last season.

He is a pure 10. His rate of 2 chances p90 is second only to Kroos in the squad, and will increase with better players.

Ødegaard brings a level of verticality the team has lacked since Özil. He looks to pass forward on every occasion, rather than recycle the ball.

This is unlike any player that Real currently have, and will add a new dimension to the attack. This will help speed up the attack.

Ødegaard’s progressive and vertical passing (8.86 progressive passes p90) will greatly help Real beat a press and move the ball forward. Madrid have had problems with this along their RW previously.

Real have built from the left mostly, and this will help solve such issues.

His proficiency in tight spaces will further aid this. Ødegaard is a mercurial dribbler, similar to Isco, and has the ability to wriggle his way out of any situation.

He completed most of his dribbles (67% success rate), and has the close control and skill to beat any opponent.

Now, let’s move onto Ødegaard’s defensive contribution. Starting him and Valverde together can make Real Madrid a pressing powerhouse down the RW.

Ødegaard and Fede, alongside Kroos, can usher in a new era of high pressing in the Spanish capital.

With both Valverde and Ødegaard’s defensive work rate (18 and 15 presses p90 respectively), Real Madrid can become a pressing powerhouse down their right side, and could force the opponents to switch play to the LW (if the ball isn't already won).

With the opposition shifting play to the left, they'll be forced to be up against the trio of Kroos, Mendy and Ramos, which would play into Real's strengths, as Kroos is an excellent presser, and Ramos and Mendy are world class ball winners.

This scenario applies if Ødegaard plays in the 10 role in the 4-4-2 diamond as well, since he naturally drifts toward the right.

The energy the two bring, coupled with Fede's physicality could lead to turnovers high up the pitch, which could generate highly dangerous situations.

Ødegaard is a profile unlike any in the Madrid squad, and combines the best bits of Isco and James in one, but with an engine better than both.

He'll improve the team exponentially, and will be a star for many years to come.