( CNN ) It 's a thriller that reads like a script from one of those Scandinavian dramas that have entranced global television audiences in recent years . A 16-year-old Norwegian soccer sensation -- Martin Odegaard -- is set for superstardom after being headhunted by Spanish giants Real Madrid . Much is expected of Odegaard , with pretty much every European elite football club rumored to have expressed an interest in securing his signature . But will Odegaard 's tale have a happy ending ? Spanish giants Real Madrid are hoping so after swooping in for the kill . `` It 's an honor and a dream come true , '' Odegaard told the Real website as he was unveiled by the Spanish club alongside one of the Real greats Emilio Butragueno , who labeled the Norwegian as `` an extraordinary talent . '' `` The reason I chose Real Madrid is because this team has the best conditions , both in sporting terms to develop as a player , and off the field to develop as a person , '' added Odegaard . While his tender age means he will initially enter Real Madrid 's B team -- coached by French great Zinedine Zidane -- it might not be too long before he 's wowing the crowd at the Spanish club 's Bernabeu stadium . `` Plan : Debut this season , '' trumpeted Norway 's largest daily newspaper VG 's headline . Odegaard 's success in Norway has snowballed quickly , with the Nordic nation gripped by his meteoric rise . `` Norway is hit by a serious , serious Odegaard-fever , '' Norwegian News Agency 's Espen Hartvig told CNN . `` I would say that in general for the moment it is a kind of pride that little Norway and little Drammen ( Odegaard 's home city ) has produced a football talent like this . '' The fresh-faced forward , who has spent his entire career to date with Stromsgodset , debuted for Norway last year , becoming the youngest player to appear in a European Championship qualifier aged just 15 years and 300 days old . `` My goal is to become the best player possible , '' said Odegaard . `` It is n't important if I play in the first or second team . `` It 's a major advantage having a second team of a really high level and with a coach who was one of the best players in the world , and it was also important in my decision , '' added the Norwegian teenager , referring to Zidane . Only time will tell -- and Odegaard has a lot of it on his side .
16-year-old Martin Odegaard has been snapped up by Real Madrid . Odegaard `` fever '' spreads across Norway with hopes pinned on the youngster 's success . ` ' The Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet reports that a deal is close to being agreed for Odegaard's transfer from Manchester United to Spanish giants Real Madrid.