Former Premier League striker Darren Bent insists he wouldn’t swap Martin Odegaard for Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham at Arsenal.

Bellingham, who swapped Borussia Dortmund for the Spanish capital in the summer, struck in stoppage time last weekend to give Real Madrid all three points against Getafe as Los Blancos continued their perfect start to the new La Liga season.

That took the England international to five goals and one assist in his first four La Liga matches for the Spanish giants with Real Madrid top of the table.

Arsenal have had a good start to the new campaign too with three wins and a draw from their opening four Premier League fixtures.

Odegaard had a brilliant 2022/23 season and the Norway international has begun the new campaign well too with two goals in four matches.

Despite Bellingham’s incredible form, Arsenal fan Bent wouldn’t swap Odegaard for the England international, he said on talkSPORT: “Bellingham? I love him, I love him. But the question that was put to me in the pre-show planning meeting was, would I swap Odegaard for him.

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“And no, I’m not swapping our captain, one of our influential players. Right at this particular moment, I’d keep Odegaard, thank you.”

Stunned host Andy Goldstein responded: “Hold on, you own Arsenal, phone goes, ‘Hello, it’s Real Madrid here, do you want to swap Bellingham for Odegaard?’ You would say no?”

“I would say no. I’d keep Odegaard. Our captain, our leader. He’s inspirational.”

Bent continued: “I think Bellingham is probably a better player but for where Arsenal are at right now, Odegaard being the captain, I’m not swapping him.”

“Yeah, but not in that position,” Bent replied when asked if he would improve the Gunners. “I’d swap Kai Havertz in a heartbeat for him. I’d play [Declan] Rice, Bellingham and Odegaard.

“There’s your three, but I’m not going to take the captaincy away from Odegaard and say, ‘off you go.’ I’m not doing that.”

Despite not wanting to swap him for Odegaard, Bent hailed the work Bellinghm is doing in La Liga, he said:”What Bellingham is doing over there is unheard of.

“I think, this is not a negative, the arrogance to go to that club and almost be like, ‘I don’t really care if that’s Toni Kroos, that’s [Luka] Modric, that’s Vinicius Jr, I’m going to show everyone I’m the main man.’

“Even some of the celebrations, the arms wide open to the fans. I honestly, genuinely hope that he stays at that football club for ten years.”

The article Pundit claims he wouldn’t ‘swap’ Arsenal star for Bellingham despite incredible Real Madrid start appeared first on Football365.com.