Brazil x Norway: Ancelotti reunites with star he released from Real Madrid

The confrontation between Brazil and Norway, in the round of 16 of the World Cup this Sunday (5), marks an unusual reunion. Coach Carlo Ancelotti will face midfielder Martin Odegaard, a player he released from Real Madrid in 2021, in a decision that changed the Norwegian's career.

Known as the "Nordic Messi", Odegaard arrived at Real Madrid at the age of 16, generating great expectations. Six years later, however, he left the club without establishing himself in the first team. His career, however, took off after moving to Arsenal, where he experienced his biggest rise.

At the time, Ancelotti justified the decision, stating that the competition in Real Madrid's midfield was too intense. "I spoke to him about the competition. We have eight very good players in midfield and it was not easy to give space to everyone. He talked to his family and decided to sign with a big club", declared the coach in August 2021.

Ascension in the Premier League
Before establishing himself, Odegaard had spells on loan at clubs such as Heerenveen (HOL), Vitesse (HOL) and Real Sociedad (ESP). The real turning point, however, came in London. At Arsenal, under the command of Mikel Arteta, the midfielder became a protagonist.

He took on the captain's armband and was a key player in winning the 2025/26 Premier League, ending a 22-year drought for the London club.

Reunion History
This will not be the first clash between Ancelotti and Odegaard after the Norwegian's departure from Real Madrid. In 2020, playing for Real Sociedad, the midfielder scored a crucial goal in the 4-3 victory over his former club, eliminating them from the Copa del Rey at the Santiago Bernabéu, in Madrid.

More recently, in 2025, as captain of Arsenal, Odegaard again contributed to eliminating the Whites in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The game between Brazil and Norway takes place this Sunday (5), in the round of 16 of the World Cup, at the New York and New Jersey Stadium, in the United States. The winner of the match will face Mexico or England in the quarterfinals, on July 11, in Miami, also in the United States.

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Source: CNN