Bernardo Silva brushes off Odegaard's fury after Nations League ankle scare

Bernardo Silva shrugged off Martin Odegaard’s furious response to a late challenge that left the Arsenal captain limping out of Ullevaal Stadion following Portugal’s Nations League victory over Norway in Oslo.

The Real Madrid midfielder caught Odegaard from behind in stoppage time, long after the 27-year-old had released possession. The Arsenal skipper required treatment on the pitch before departing the stadium, and confronted Silva directly when the pair next met on the field. When asked about Odegaard’s visible anger and the distress caused, Silva kept his answer brief: “It’s football, my friend.”

Odegaard was far less sanguine. “It doesn’t belong on a football field,” the Norwegian said. “It’s a shame that people do that. It’s a head fog from him — just kicks me down long after I’ve played the ball away. I don’t understand what he’s doing.” He declined to repeat what he said to Silva in the immediate aftermath, adding pointedly: “I don’t think we should do that on TV.”

The Arsenal captain admitted he feared the worst for his ankle. “I hope not,” he said when asked whether the injury was serious. “But I got a knock on my ankle there, so it probably won’t be good tonight.”

Portugal secured the win through goals from Joao Felix and Goncalo Ramos, with Erling Haaland — who scored for Norway — unable to prevent the defeat. Ruben Dias also featured for the visitors, ending on the winning side alongside Silva despite the ill-tempered finish to the match.

The incident is likely to draw scrutiny ahead of the next round of club fixtures, with Odegaard’s fitness a concern for Arsenal given the ankle discomfort he reported leaving the stadium.