It has been a very difficult first half of the season for Real Madrid starlet Endrick. After having found it hard to get minutes under Carlo Ancelotti in his debut season, this was expected to be the Brazilian teenager’s proper breakthrough campaign.
But injuries kept him out of action for the first couple of months and even after he returned to full fitness, the striker has been constantly overlooked by Xabi Alonso.
Given the situation, it was decided that the young attacker would leave on loan in January, with an agreement with Olympique Lyon almost secured.
However, his brief cameo against Manchester City, where he showed heart and fight and drew appreciation from the fans at the Santiago Bernabeu has sparked a debate.
The Brazilian needed only a handful of minutes to show that he is being underused and deserves to play more.
And, with Alonso under pressure, there has been talk of a possible change in his situation, with the chance that he might stay to try to earn opportunities under a potential new coach.
Endrick will leave even if Alonso is sacked
However, according to AS, Endrick’s situation can no longer change. He will leave on loan to Olympique Lyon, as agreed between the two clubs and the player.
For Real Madrid, Endrick’s departure is considered a positive move, given how the squad has been structured since the start of the season.
Endrick of Real Madrid
Endrick will leave Real Madrid in January. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Gonzalo Garcia’s breakthrough at the FIFA Club World Cup led Alonso to also place trust in the academy player, whom he sees as a pure No. 9, a profile not otherwise present in the squad.
The head coach views Endrick as a more dynamic player and less of a penalty box striker, despite his clear goalscoring ability. Having the two players competing for the limited minutes left by the first-choice striker Kylian Mbappe is not viable.
With the loan move, all parties benefit. Endrick has found the destination he wanted: a team playing European competition, where he has a clear path to being a starter and where he will gain exposure in his attempt to earn a place with Brazil at the next World Cup.
On the other hand, the loan allows Real Madrid to protect their investment, having already spent more than €60 million on the operation. The club continue to trust Endrick for the future and therefore needed him to remain active to avoid further depreciation.
Both the player and Real Madrid tried to delay the loan for as long as possible, not because of a potential departure of Alonso, but in case the situation in the position changed due to an unexpected injury.
However, the agreement with Lyon is now firm. Irrespective of what happens with Alonso’s future, Endrick will be joining the Ligue 1 outfit in January on loan until the end of the season.