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Endrick is set to battle for his spot at Real Madrid next season, with the club having no intention of sending their young star out on loan again.
At just 19 years old, the Brazilian attacker finds himself at a critical crossroads. Since arriving at the Bernabéu with a hefty price tag and enormous expectations in the summer of 2024, Endrick has struggled to truly launch his Madrid career.
In 2024–25, he featured in 37 matches across all competitions but was handed just eight starts and managed only a single La Liga goal under former boss Carlo Ancelotti.
Last season, after failing to break into Xabi Alonso's plans, he was sent on loan to Lyon, where he has begun to remind the football world of his status as one of the game's most exciting young talents.
His showings in France (16 goal contributions in 24 appearances) were convincing enough to earn him a spot in Ancelotti's World Cup squad for Brazil, and it has been widely reported that the young striker will head back to Madrid to compete for a starting role next season. However, the summer tournament has yet to provide the global showcase many had anticipated.
Meme Sensation
Endrick: me gustan mucho los dinosaurios
Ancelotti: pic.twitter.com/brWD3HqiHE
Endrick: "Eu sou alérgico, por favor não fumem perto de mim"
Ancelotti: pic.twitter.com/s3TAFORbCL
Endrick: "Can I sit in the back of the car?"
Ancelotti: pic.twitter.com/fAbZqIwPBE
Despite earning a place in Brazil's 26-man squad, Endrick has been given very little playing time at this summer's World Cup.
The teenager was completely unused in Brazil's opening match against Morocco, before making brief substitute appearances of 26 minutes and eight minutes against Haiti and Scotland respectively.
Endrick's persistent absence from the pitch—despite vocal public support—has sparked a viral meme trend, with social media users dreaming up endlessly inventive scenarios in which Ancelotti denies the player his moment (a few examples shown above).
"I can see that the fans are really pushing for Endrick," Ancelotti was quoted as saying by The Athletic, when pressed on the matter.
Real Madrid's own Éder Militão has joined the chorus of voices calling for more Endrick, recently stating: "Every time he comes on, even if it's just two or three minutes, he transforms the game. He has that star quality."
Where Could Endrick Play for Real Madrid Next Season?
Whatever unfolds for Endrick and Brazil in the remainder of the World Cup, the forward looks set to return to Real Madrid after the tournament and fight for his place under new manager José Mourinho.
MARCA reports that "No further loan is being sought" and that Endrick is "very likely" to feature prominently in Mourinho's setup. Interestingly, while he was originally deployed as a centre forward early in his career, Endrick is now expected to operate in a wider role.
Having impressed on the right side of a front three during his time at Lyon, Madrid anticipate Endrick returning to challenge Rodrygo, Brahim Díaz and Franco Mastantuono for a wide position in Mourinho's favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.
SI answers is our AI answer engine trained on human-created content.
Rodrygo's ongoing rehabilitation from an ACL injury sustained this spring means he will miss the beginning of the new campaign, while speculation suggests Mastantuono could be loaned out. This would leave Díaz as Endrick's primary competition heading into August—though Federico Valverde has also deputised at right wing at times, despite being more naturally suited to a deeper midfield role.
Either way, Endrick now has a genuine opportunity to shed the recurring narrative of his young career—a chronic shortage of minutes—and firmly establish himself as a Real Madrid first-team player.