Rodri, Barcelona player
Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Rodri, Barcelona player
Rodri was close to joining Real Madrid in the summer. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Rodri, Barcelona player
Rodri is geared up for his first El Clasico. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Endrick, Real Madrid player
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Endrick is not guaranteed to stay at Real Madrid beyond the January transfer window, with his playing time likely to influence whether he stays despite Jose Mourinho’s public insistence that the Brazilian will not leave.
This is according to journalist Matteo Moretto on Radio MARCA, who claims that AS Roma and AC Milan remain seriously interested in the Brazilian forward.
Mourinho has made it clear that he wants to keep Endrick. The Real Madrid boss publicly ruled out a January departure when asked about interest in the youngster earlier this month.
*“No, no, forget it. If any interested clubs are waiting for him, they better sit down, because they will get exhausted waiting standing up,,”* Mourinho said.
He also made clear how highly he rates the Brazilian, describing him as a player he adores, with enormous potential and an important role to play at Real Madrid.
Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid manager
Mourinho firmly against Endrick’s loan exit (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
“Anyone interested in him will have to fight me hard, because I believe he does not need to go out on loan and that he’ll have massive success here,” he added.
However, as per Moretto, that does not guarantee Endrick’s continuity in January, with both AS Roma and AC Milan monitoring the situation closely.
Roma had already explored the possibility of signing Endrick during the summer, while AC Milan have also shown interest in bringing the forward to Italy.
A loan move would give either club the opportunity to offer him a more prominent role, which could appeal to the 20-year-old.
Endrick, Real Madrid player
AS Roma, AC Milan keen on Endrick. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Endrick’s previous loan spell at Lyon demonstrated the potential benefits of regular football. He scored eight goals in 21 appearances for the French club during the second half of the previous season, helping him regain momentum after struggling for opportunities in Madrid.
The coming weeks will be important in determining whether Mourinho’s confidence translates into a bigger role for Endrick.
If the forward receives more opportunities and demonstrates that he can influence matches, Real Madrid will have a stronger argument for keeping him.