Real Madrid have one of the biggest gems in world football in Endrick, a player they spent a whopping 60 million euros to sign as a teenager from Palmeiras after Juni Calafat and Florentino Perez fell in love with his qualities.
Endrick was scintillating in the Copa del Rey in the 2024/25 season when he got his chances from Carlo Ancelotti, but he obviously found it tough to get any playing time in his maiden season. The problem is that in his second season under Xabi Alonso, the new coach practically discarded the explosive left footer, and the solution was to send him on loan to Lyon.
Well, despite what Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca may say, Endrick has been sensational for the Ligue 1 giants. He has eight goal contributions in 11 games and leads the team in key passes per game and dribbles completed per game.
Endrick will likely be back next season
According to a report from Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, Endrick is expected to be a first team player for Real Madrid again in the 2026/27 season. The club will not entertain any transfer interest for their 19 year old Brazilian forward and have convinced him that he will be important to the team.
How that affects Gonzalo Garcia is a different story, but considering they play different positions with different profiles and skill sets, then that is fully on Florentino Perez if he wants to sacrifice one for the other. But it is obvious to any Madrdista who has seen Endrick at Lyon and even at Real Madrid that he has that something special the club needs.
If anything, Real Madrid fans are baffled that the club spent so much on left footed playmaker Franco Mastantuono and froze out Endrick when the latter is better, more productive, and a more ideal fit on the wings with his athletic profile. Real have been looking for a left footed right winger, and while Perez's new obsession for Michael Olise is not unwarranted, the Frenchman is unrealistic. Meanwhile, like Nico Paz, Endrick is readily available for Real Madrid - and superior to the Eminem look alike who froze them out of the team.
Now, Ancelotti and Alonso were not fully wrong for having their doubts about Endrick as a regular first team player. There is a maturity issue that needs to be bridged, but it is not like Endrick is a problem in the locker room or someone who does not try. He just needs to be nurtured with extra encouragement.