Club America coach Santiago Solari has spoken of working with Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard.

Solari worked with Odegaard as Real Madrid Castilla coach.

"Odegaard came to Madrid very young, 15 or 16 years old. It was difficult for him because he wanted to train with the first team, something that no one his age was doing. He was a talent, of course, but sometimes it's easier for them start with boys of his age than with the first team," recalled Solari.

"You learn other things because you are with the first team and you learn from the best, but he had to come back several times and play for Castilla. And that's difficult if you don't train with those players all the time.

"He grew up as a footballer and as a person. He didn't have it easy at Madrid in the beginning, he showed character. There were a lot of expectations for him. Handling that kind of pressure from the beginning ... And he talks about it and I'm delighted that he grew so much, first going to Real Sociedad, then coming back and then playing for Arsenal.

"I hope he's happy. I've spent a lot of time with him, like other players, if he learned at least one thing that I tried to teach him, and it's good for him, I'm already happy with it."