Ronny Deila says Real Madrid wonderkid Martin Odegaard wouldn’t get a game for Celtic.
The Hoops manager battled hard to sign the precocious 16-year-old Norwegian internationalist before he made his £2.3-million switch to Spain.
But having failed in the attempt, he is relaxed he got away even though he concedes his target may eventually become world class.
“Could Odegaard play for Celtic? He would struggle,” said Deila of his former Stromgodset star, who was also courted by Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
“It is not common that 16 or 17-year-olds play regularly in the Premier League or a top division. Some get through, but not many.
“It is easier to play at Hamilton than Celtic. They can lose three or four games without things happening.
“When you put your shoes into Celtic Park, they don’t look at you as a 16 or 17-year-old.
“They (the fans) just think you are ready, and you get all that pressure on you at once.
“In my opinion, Martin is one of the most talented 16-year-olds in the world, maybe No. 1. But he’s not better than a top Tippeligaen (Norway’s top league) player. He’s not better than Kris Commons. He’s not even close.
“At the same time, I believe he can go on to become world-class.
“What is good about Martin Odegaard is he works the right way. He doesn’t think that he is a world-class player, but he believes he can become one and he loves training and playing.”
It is an appetite for learning which Deila believes is shared by Celtic’s Scotland Under-19 internationalist Liam Henderson, who has just been sent out on loan to Rosenborg in Norway. “That’s what’s good about Liam as well,” he continued.
“When I asked about going to Norway, he said yes straight away. It was a positive thing for him.
“He didn’t think: ‘No, I should be playing for Celtic.’ He thought this could improve him as a player.
“For me, he is already maybe the best Under-19 player in Scotland.
“I think he would play for 70-80% of the other Premiership clubs, maybe 90% even.
“But while he is very talented, he’s not better than a good SPL player.
“That is okay, though, because he is ambitious and he is not finished yet.
“He is just going for the next thing all the time.”
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