_Our Young Gun series gets to know the academy youngsters kicking off their careers at Sobha Realty Training Centre._
_Lucas Martin Nygaard spoke to us recently, and here's what he had to say about growing up in Denmark, dreaming of the World Cup and more._
I grew up in a Danish city called Holte, and my love for football began when my dad took me to train with the local team. I fell in love with the game almost instantly. When I was younger I looked up to Messi and Ronaldo, but after becoming a goalkeeper I started admiring Manuel Neuer. He’s transformed how the position is played with his skills on the ball, and he’s an outstanding shot-stopper who has won countless trophies. Growing up, I supported FC Copenhagen, and my current favourite player is Thomas Delaney.
I started playing football when I was about six or seven, joining the local team, FC Holte. After playing there for around three years, a team-mate and I were invited for a trial with FC Nordsjaelland. The trial lasted about ten days, and we both ended up signing for the club. I stayed with them for seven years until I turned 17.
Some of my standout memories from that time include winning a tournament in Holland with the under-11s. We were so young that it felt like winning the World Cup – it was an amazing experience. My favourite memory, though, was participating in the Future Cup with the under-17s. We were joined by players from the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana, and we went unbeaten throughout the tournament, beating Ajax 3-0 in the final. I was also fortunate enough to travel to Japan, which was a brilliant cultural experience, and to Ghana to visit the Right to Dream Academy. That trip was my first time in Africa, and seeing the incredible talent there was eye-opening.
I currently play for the national team at youth level, and I take pride in representing Denmark. I dream of one day playing for the senior national team at major tournaments like the World Cup or the Euros.
When I left FC Nordsjaelland at 17, I began looking for a new team. My first trial was with PSG, and then I had a trial with Arsenal. I’m not entirely sure how it came about; my dad simply told me while I was with the national team that Arsenal were coming to watch one of my games. They must have been impressed as they invited me for a trial, and things progressed from there.
> "I quickly fell in love with Arsenal during my trial"
I quickly fell in love with Arsenal during my trial, which lasted around two weeks. The set-up, the coaches, and my teammates were all incredibly welcoming. Over the next six weeks I travelled back and forth, and on my 18th birthday I was offered a contract to sign that summer. It was an unforgettable moment – I was buzzing! Arsenal is such a massive club, and it’s an opportunity not many 18 year olds get.
When I joined I immediately travelled with the first team on their USA tour, which was a phenomenal experience. It was my first time in a first-team environment, and I gained invaluable insight into how professionals operate. Training with players like Martin Odegaard and the rest of the squad was unreal. David Raya is world class – everything he does is detailed and professional, and he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Neto has also been brilliant with me. Training alongside them has helped me improve my game every time I step onto the pitch.
This season in the Youth League hasn’t gone as we hoped, but my first game back, against PSG, was special. I’d been out with a long-term injury, and it felt great to contribute with big saves during a tough match. That performance gave me a lot of confidence. My goals for the rest of the season are to play as many games as possible for the under-21s to help us progress in the league and, if another first-team opportunity arises, to make the most of it and give my best.
Sport runs in my family. My mum, Camilla Martin Nygaard, was a professional badminton player and a world champion. She’s one of two Danish women to have won both the All England and World Championship singles titles. She also won silver at the 2000 Olympic Games in Athens and has been a European champion too. She has a deep understanding of what it takes to be a professional athlete and how to handle pressure, which she often shares with me. Her achievements are incredible, and we occasionally talk about her career. My younger brother, Elias Martin, has also followed the badminton route. He’s very talented, playing two age groups above his own, and he’s definitely someone to keep an eye on!
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