After defending the Brazilian team in the World Cup, Endrick returns to Real Madrid with the task of earning his place in the squad. In the first half of the year, the 19-year-old striker shone on loan at Lyon, a performance that guaranteed him a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, but which was still not enough to ensure a continuation at Merengues.
Information from the foreign press indicated that Real Madrid intends to open a vacancy in its offensive sector for the arrival of a new prominent player. As a result, the expectation is that Endrick or Gonzalo García will be loaned, while the other will remain at the disposal of the Portuguese coach. The decision will be made during the 2026/27 pre-season, after evaluating training and friendly games.
The Fulham team, at the request of Álvaro Arbeloa, García’s former coach at youth and professional level, even started talks with Real Madrid for the Spanish striker. However, European reports revealed that coach José Mourinho temporarily barred García from leaving, considering him an important piece for the team’s current rotation.
Sources linked to the Brazilian athlete found that there have not yet been discussions with Real Madrid about plans for his future. These conversations should take place after the player’s reintroduction, scheduled for July 28th. Endrick has been on vacation since the 5th, the date of Brazil’s elimination to Norway in the round of 16 of the FIFA tournament, held in North America.
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Regardless of Real Madrid’s choice, the Seleção’s number 19 has a clear challenge: is it more advantageous to have limited minutes for his development at the Santiago Bernabéu or look for a lesser club where he can be a starter?
Pointed out as one of the great promises of the Brazilian team for the cycle until 2030, Endrick will need to decide whether he will activate the “Martin Odegaard protocol” or adapt to a new characteristic in his game to climb the Merengues hierarchy.
Mbappé’s arrival and the impact on Endrick’s career at Real Madrid
When he emerged as a phenomenon at Palmeiras, the striker was signed by Real Madrid in December 2022, at the age of 16. The operation cost 70 million euros (around R$393 million at the time), and Endrick was seen as the future of the position at Merengues. However, the scenario changed drastically with the arrival of Kylian Mbappé.
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An old wish of Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid, the French star moved to the Spanish capital in June 2024, after long negotiations to leave PSG. The Brazilian revelation arrived at the club the following month, upon turning 18, already aware that his initial role would be as a reserve.
At the beginning of his debut season, with the Italian coach in charge, Endrick had some opportunities, scoring goals and contributing from the bench. However, over time, Mbappé fully adapted to the team and did not give the Merengues any more chances.
To complicate the situation, the young striker suffered a muscle injury at the end of the 2024/25 season, which prevented him from being available when Xabi Alonso arrived. As Real Madrid’s number 10 also started the Club World Cup in the medical department, a rare opportunity arose for Gonzalo García, who stood out with goals in the United States.
Kylian Mbappé recovered and had an impressive season, becoming top scorer in LaLiga and the Champions League, even without the Merengues winning any title. Owner of the record for goals in the history of the World Cup, the Frenchman promises to maintain his prominent position in charge of Real Madrid’s attack, unless an injury prevents him.
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If the main center forward position is occupied by Mbappé, an alternative for Endrick to differentiate himself from the 22-year-old Spaniard and become Mourinho’s priority is to play as a right winger. Rodrygo is recovering from tears in the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and the meniscus, suffered in March, and is not expected to return before December. Franco Mastantuono performed inconsistently in 2025/26 and could be loaned out to gain experience in Europe.
At Lyon (OL), Endrick played the role of right winger, cutting from the wing to the middle at speed to finish in front of goal. Coach Paulo Fonseca has already demonstrated Endrick’s potential to shine on this side of the field, but, to establish himself as a starter for the Merengues in this position, he needs to improve his ability to recover defensively, an aspect that has already been criticized.
In the national team, Ancelotti even moved the striker to the wing with the arrival of Neymar in the decision against Norway. However, Endrick did not show the same intensity without the ball to assist in marking on the right, which opened up spaces for Erling Haaland’s two goals. Considering that Trent Alexander-Arnold and Denzel Dumfries are full-backs with a more offensive profile, Real Madrid needs a player with tactical commitment when the opponent has possession of the ball.
The example of Martin Odegaard as a possible path for the Brazilian striker
If the “Special One” (José Mourinho) decides to keep Gonzalo García in the squad, the Brazilian could face the third consecutive season being passed over by the Merengues. In this scenario, what would be the limit of the attacker’s patience, who is at a crucial stage of his career and in full physical progression to become one of the main names in his position? Therefore, the trajectory of Arsenal’s attacking midfielder, Martin Odegaard, can serve as an inspiration.
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Odegaard was signed by Real Madrid in January 2015, also at 16 years of age. Between 2015 and 2017, the Norwegian promise played for Castilla and had very few minutes among the professionals due to the strong competition in his sector. Later, he accumulated loans for clubs such as Heerenveen, Vitesse and Real Sociedad, demonstrating his talent and potential to integrate the Merengues’ plans.
However, the attacking midfielder was temporarily transferred to the Gunners in January 2021. At the end of that season, the Norwegian made the audacious decision to “take a step back” in his career and sign permanently with Arsenal, giving up his link with Real Madrid. Playing a prominent role under the command of Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard has become one of the stars of the Premier League, having won the English championship in 2025/26.
Being a mere shadow of Real Madrid’s number 10 is an unsustainable situation for Endrick, especially for someone who aspires to be a leading player in the Brazilian national team. Therefore, whether through a new loan or a permanent transfer, the attacker must consider a change of scenery as a solution to maintain the high level of his career.