Real Madrid starlet Martin Odegaard ditched from Champions League and UEFA Youth League squads as he remains in limbo

By Pete Jenson for MailOnline

Published: 07:23 EST, 30 September 2015 | Updated: 07:22 EST, 1 October 2015

Martin Odegaard's difficult situation at Real Madrid worsened this week when he was left out of Rafa Benitez's Champions League squad to face Malmo in Sweden, and their UEFA Youth League squad.

The 16-year-old has been in limbo ever since he arrived in a high-profile £2.3million signing from Stromsgodset last January having turned down both Manchester clubs and Liverpool. 

He is too advanced for the third tier of Spanish football where the club's second string currently play but he has not forced his way into the thinking of, first Carlo Ancelotti last season, and now Benitez. 

Martin Odegaard has been overlooked for Real Madrid's Champions League squad against Malmo

Martin Odegaard has been overlooked for Real Madrid's Champions League squad against Malmo

The 16-year-old has also been omitted from the club's U19 UEFA Youth League squad

The 16-year-old has also been omitted from the club's U19 UEFA Youth League squad

Odegaard has failed to force his way into Real manager Rafa Benitez's thinking so far

Odegaard has failed to force his way into Real manager Rafa Benitez's thinking so far

The Real manager named two youngsters in his squad for Sweden but it was striker Borja Mayoral and midfielder Marcos Llorente who made the cut and not Odegaard despite the fact that the record teenage signing is on the club's Champions League list.

The Norway international does not train with the club's Under 19s so neither does he feature in their UEFA Youth League team despite the coach, Luis Miguel Ramis, saying recently: 'He is the right age so if I need him then I can pick him.'

It means that Odegaard is completely missing out on important European experience and although close friends say he is remaining patient and is happy with his learning curve under Real Castilla coach Zinedine Zidane, there are concerns that he could stagnate without more game time.

Odegaard became the youngest debutant in the Spanish giant's history last season when he played in the last match of the campaign in a 7-3 win over Getafe aged just 16 years and 175 days. He was expected to be loaned-out this summer.

But it had also been written into his contract that he would tour with the first team and this commitment made it difficult for him to be incorporated into another club's preseason especially when he was the main attraction as Real played in Norway against Valerenga just two weeks before the new season started.

Odegaard became the youngest debutant in the Spanish giants' history last season in a 7-3 win over Getafe

Odegaard became the youngest debutant in the Spanish giants' history last season in a 7-3 win over Getafe

There was original interest from Villarreal, Betis, Malaga, Getafe and Rayo Vallecano and the latter two teams are Madrid-based and could still move to secure a loan deal for Odegaard in January. A move to a second division club is also now being mooted as he would be more likely to play every week.

Sources in Norway say there is also concern among the country's football fans that one of their bright hopes for next year's European Championship will not have had a season's football behind him when the tournament kicks off.

They watched Odegaard shine against England U21s in a recent meeting and yet despite getting the better of Premier League opponents such as Tottenham's Dele Alli and Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek, he does not seem to reach the same performances levels for Madrid's B-team where, wearing No 10 in the current table-toppers side, he has played in all five games so far this season but is yet to score.

The attacking midfielder is understood to be happy training with Zidane and after that game against England two weeks ago he told Sportsmail's Dominic King: 'Zidane is a great coach and a great man to learn from. He was one of the best in the world and it is a privilege to work with him.' He also admitted having spoken to Benitez but that his primary focus was becoming 'a better footballer.'

Odegaard greets supporters after Norway Under 21s were beaten 1-0 by England earlier this month

Odegaard greets supporters after Norway Under 21s were beaten 1-0 by England earlier this month

Odegaard (right) described it as 'a privilege' to be under the stewardship of Zinedine Zidane (centre)

Odegaard (right) described it as 'a privilege' to be under the stewardship of Zinedine Zidane (centre)

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