It's a weird time to be Endrick. The immensely talented Brazilian was supposed to be part of a new era, but instead finds himself in complete limbo. He hasn't played for five months, and everything suggests that he probably should have left over the summer. Injuries and a reluctance from the manager to play him have resulted in successive games sat on the bench, and now the 19-year-old faces a huge decision on his future.
But Endrick has the No.9 shirt now. This seems like a good thing. After all, when a footballer is handed a jersey of such prestige, they tend to be doing something right. It implies a certain amount of faith, a backing from higher-ups. In other words, Madrid supposedly trust him.
Well, that's all very nice and symbolic, but the actual footballing reality is wildly different. It has been over 150 days since Endrick last kicked a ball in a competitive game. There was plenty of hype when he was signed, and that will remain. Endrick is 19, an immense talent, and has shown, in brief spells, that he can be a game-changing attacking presence.
Yet he remains flawed; Endrick isn't particularly tall. He also isn't a great fit in Xabi Alonso's system. And with plentiful talk of a loan move that could take him away from Madrid, it's hard to envisage a future for him at the club. There are, every so often, now or never moments for a footballer. Endrick feels like he's right on the precipice of one. An exit in January might be the only way to salvage his budding career.