Real Madrid were right on the money when they signed Martin Ødegaard.

He is a very special player, with an impressive and unique skill set for a 16-year-old boy. His performance against Guadalajara - a frustrating game for his team - was absolutely sublime.

The fate which football holds for its greatest exponents is strange sometimes. The draw put an end to Castilla's hopes of making the playoffs for promotion to Spain's 2nd Division - a massive disappointment for the club, the team and for the players, especially for those of greatest renown.

Segunda B is certainly not the right setting to develop talent or to receive acclaim. It is a tough, steely division with barely any public exposure. It was a shame to see Ødegaard's dejection following his superb performance in a game which dispelled any doubts about the magnitude of his talent. His heartache was plain to see: another year in Segunda B is akin to a jail sentence.

There was not a single move in which the youngster failed to demonstrate his class. Even when he made mistakes, it was clear that we were watching a different kind of player. Nothing he did was trivial. He gave short passes because that was what the situation required. He threaded an infinity of passes through the lines. He displayed a surprising range of skills, disconcerting Guadalajara's experienced defenders and midfielders, who never came close to stopping him.

Ødegaard's game was textbook. He was the best player in his team by a long shot and the one who went to the greatest lengths to try to win the game. Real Madrid got it right in this respect as well. The player set an example with his conduct. He called for the ball constantly, with the conviction of a leader