Real Madrid won the race to acquire 16-year-old attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard, the club announced.

Odegaard has been one of the hottest commodities on the soccer transfer market this month as several teams have expressed strong interest in acquiring him from Stromsgodset.

Sources said that teams like Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal inquired about Odegaard, but the Norway international opted to move to Bernabeu.

FC Barcelona, Real Madrid's main rival in the Spanish La Liga, also had Odegaard on their radar, but the youngster eventually decided to move to Los Blancos, saying playing at Bernabeu will be a fulfillment of one of his dreams and he feels his skills will improve with the help from the club's top players.

"It's an honor and a dream come true," Odegaard told the club's official website. "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. It's the best option for me. For me it's incredible I'm ready for a team like this one."

At 16, Odegaard is not expected to get significant amount of playing time since the club is loaded in every position. The attacking midfielder said, though, that he will not have problems coming off the bench for Real Madrid.

"My goal is to become the best player possible," Odegaard said. "It isn'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."

Odegaard will also likely see action as part of the club's B Team, which will be handled by soccer legend Zinedine Zidane, who is tipped to develop the teenage superstar into a better player on and off the pitch.

Aside from Odegaard, Real Madrid are also being linked to a possible move to acquire Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea. Sources told Metro Real Madrid will acquire the 24-year-old goalie at the end of the current season after Manchester United and de Gea failed to agree to a new deal.

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