Interest in the Premier League
Endrick joined Real Madrid amidst high expectations, hailed as one of Brazil’s most promising talents in decades. The club invested €47.5 million to secure the forward in December 2022, with the official transfer to the Spanish capital occurring in July 2024, following his 18th birthday. Naturally, Endrick drew comparisons to football legends Ronaldo and Pelé as he made waves while playing for Palmeiras.
The young striker became the fourth youngest player in history to represent Brazil’s national team when he debuted against Colombia in 2023, quickly making an impression by scoring important goals in matches against England and Spain. However, he was not included in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for Brazil’s upcoming international matches, largely due to his limited playing time at Real Madrid. Since his transfer, Endrick has not played a single minute this season under Xabi Alonso, which raises the stakes for a significant decision about his future in January.
Endrick’s Challenges at Real Madrid
Since arriving at Madrid, Endrick has started only eight games, often being used as a substitute. In his debut season, he made 37 appearances but logged just 847 minutes—equivalent to less than ten full matches. While he netted seven goals in that time, his contributions have dwindled this season due to a hamstring injury that sidelined him during the Club World Cup and the first five games. Although he returned to fitness nearly a month ago, he’s remained an unused substitute in Madrid’s last five games.
Ahead of their recent match against Villarreal, Alonso hinted that Endrick might soon compete for a starting position, though that seems unlikely as he sat on the bench during the 3-1 victory. “He has a chance to be a starter [soon],” Alonso stated. “He’s recovering from a slightly longer injury, but he’s trained well for a few weeks now. It’s just a matter of finding the right context for him in the game. He has a goal-scoring instinct and a remarkable finishing ability. However, there’s significant competition. But his time will come.”
What Lies Ahead for Endrick
Endrick’s time at Real Madrid will reach a crucial juncture in January, presenting a major decision for the 19-year-old. He is keen to reclaim his place in Brazil’s national squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, but staying benched at Madrid could hinder those ambitions. His availability in the January transfer window is likely to attract interest from several top European clubs. Madrid legend Guti has advised him to seek a team where he can regularly participate, stating, “If he doesn’t get any opportunities before December, I think his best option is to leave to ensure he continues to develop. For a young player, gaining playing time is vital.”
West Ham is the latest club rumored to be interested in Endrick, with reports suggesting they might be leading the chase for a loan deal. Real Sociedad and Valencia had also sought to loan him during the summer and could revive their interest, following an earlier rejection. Ivan Fuente, a LaLiga expert at Transfermarkt, foresees Endrick moving on loan in January, elaborating, “Endrick has hardly played for Madrid since joining, and that is unlikely to change any time soon. Gonzalo Garcia is currently favored over him in the lineup. He didn’t want to leave on loan last summer, but his position may shift in January. He had the chance to join Real Sociedad on loan, but injuries derailed that. It seems increasingly likely he will consider a loan move in January.”
