Just a year ago, the Los Blancos began to notice a teenage striker who was four or five steps ahead of his age. The goals, the way he played and the physicality with which he took down opponents like he didn’t intend to attract the attention of many.
Endrick signed a deal with Real Madrid to join in 2024
Talent in sports appears earlier and earlier. Processes are moving forward, and physical improvement results in children being placed at the highest level of football. Endrick’s story is a true reflection of the sport’s changes. Just a year ago, the Los Blancos began to notice a teenage striker who was four or five steps ahead of his age. The goals, the way he played and the physicality with which he took down opponents like he didn’t intend to, attracted the attention of many, but Real Madrid moved quickly and satisfactorily. Twelve months later, Endrick signed a deal with Real Madrid to join in 2024.
Last January 2022, as the looming battle between the European giants was reported, in what was the first of many reports, including an interview with Felipe, about what was a complex and complicated deal, but in which the desire of the 16-year-old striker has always been the same: to play for Real Madrid.
PSG was the big contender in the final stretch, but Barcelona were always present. From the very beginning. In the middle of the FIFA World Cup, Barcelona head coach Xavi still dreamed of seeing Endrick at the Blaugrana, but the reality at that time was completely different. The decision has already been made. The player visited Madrid, Paris and Barcelona with his family last February, getting to know the three cities and what the clubs have to offer if he signs up for one of the three clubs. Back in Sao Paulo, the Real Madrid director remained in a deal with both the agent and the directors of his origin club Palmeiras, with whom he had always had an excellent relationship and which led to an agreement that went beyond mere numbers. Club President Leila Pereira understood the complexity of Real Madrid’s undertaking in signing a 16-year-old teenager ideally.
Palmeiras could earn almost 60 million euros to transfer a youngster
The presence of points that reward the Sao Paulo club for the number of games played by the Brazilian teenager is the best proof of this. The club could earn almost 60 million euros to transfer a youngster who still has nearly two years as an underage player. At the start of the current season, Los Blancos again went to see Endrick in situ. Reports were similarly positive, but there was no definitive test, one that would determine his ability when he faced fully developed pluses. The final test came with Juni Calafat’s third visit to Brazil in early November, coinciding with the youngster’s first-team debut. Everything was finalized shortly after the start of the FIFA World Cup, at which point the footballer’s father launched the idea of a visit to Madrid, something that will take place in the coming days.
When Endrick’s father spoke, everything was done. At the moment, there has yet to be a completed transfer or anything like that. FIFA is just a spectator in an agreement between two clubs, not in a transfer. FIFA ensures that the contract is at most three years, the maximum for a minor, but Real Madrid secured the Brazilian contract for another three years, that is, six seasons. Everything is transparent and legal.