The 22-year-old joined Arsenal on loan during the January transfer window after struggling for regular game time at Real Madrid during the first half of the season.

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has admitted that he made a mistake with Martin Odegaard.

That is according to reports in Spain as Defensa Central claims that the Frenchman has privately admitted he made a fatal error by allowing the Norway international to join Arsenal in the January transfer window.

In addition, Zidane is said to believe that letting Odegaard leave 'did a lot of damage' to his side's hopes of retaining their La Liga crown, which he believes would have been wrapped up by now had the attacking midfielder stayed.

The report also states that 'damage' has come in the form of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos suffering from fatigue that would have been avoided if Odegaard was an option.

This admission could be bad news for the Gunners.

As previously reported by football. London, Mikel Arteta, and technical director Edu have already begun looking ahead to what is shaping up to be a busy summer at the Emirates Stadium.

In terms of incomings, Arsenal is keen to sign Odegaard permanently and it's understood that they will negotiate with Los Blancos as well the Norwegian representatives at the end of the season.

But if Zidane is having regrets about loaning out the 22-year-old, he would likely want the midfielder back to avoid a repeat of what has happened during the second half of this season.

With that said, Odegaard has recently admitted that he is loving life in north London under Arteta.

"I think the most important thing was how the club and how the manager wants to play and the style," he said when speaking to Arsenal's website last month.

“As I've said many times, I always enjoyed the way Arsenal plays football, and now especially after Mikel took over, this style suits me well. That was more important than the dream of playing in the Premier League. The most important thing was the club, the style and everything around."

"I'm having a good time, the manager is great and the team is good.

So many good players and the way we play suits me well.

I think I'm adapting pretty good to the league and the style so I'm happy."

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Source: football.london