A year ago, Endrick’s arrival at the Madrid club was met with great expectations. His transfer was seen as the emergence of a new attacking leader, comparable to Vinícius or Rodrygo. At just 17, he had already stood out for the national team, which only increased interest in him.
However, a year and a half after signing with the Madrid side, reality has turned out to be far from what was predicted. Last season, Endrick rarely appeared on the pitch, and in the current championship, his involvement has dropped to zero. As of October 20, he had not played a single minute in official matches for the first team.
The situation became particularly evident in Getafe, where Endrick was preparing to come on but was never brought onto the field. His discontent did not go unnoticed, fueling talks in his camp about the need for change. The most likely option is a loan during the winter transfer window to maintain his chances of making Brazil’s squad for the World Cup, which will be held in the summer in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Under Xabi Alonso’s current rotation, Endrick is behind all the other forwards in the pecking order. Even Gonzalo García is getting more time on the field, which became apparent after the Club World Cup. The Brazilian forward has been watching matches from the bench, not featuring in either the short-term or long-term plans of the coaching staff. His statistics speak for themselves: zero minutes this season.
For a player who was already included in the extended national team roster at 16 and made his debut for the national squad at 17, the current situation looks like a step back. The lack of consistent playing time has forced Endrick to consider a loan move, though such decisions are rarely encouraged by the Madrid club. This scenario was already discussed in the summer, with “Real Sociedad” mentioned as a possible destination, but an injury prevented the transfer.
Now, with his recovery complete but still lacking game time, the idea of a temporary move is becoming increasingly relevant. Endrick faces a choice: stay in Madrid and continue training at a high level with no guarantee of playing, or join another team for regular practice and a chance to return to the national squad.
Given the fierce competition in Madrid’s attack, the risk of going unnoticed is high. Therefore, the question of whether there is an ‘Endrick problem’ is no longer in doubt.
