Bench-warmer Endrick must leave Real Madrid on loan in January

Last Updated: December 18, 2024By Chief Editor

Los Blancos need to send their big-money teenager out on loan – it’s the best idea for both parties

It all started so well for Endrick – how could it not? The Brazilian was subject to immense hype before he even arrived at Santiago Bernabeu. There was the big transfer fee and adulation for Cristiano Ronaldo. There were the highlight reels that stuffed social media feeds and the video of Jude Bellingham calling him a “superstar”. Cue the Real Madrid hype train.

Fast forward to the present day, and things are radically different. Through four months of the season, Endrick has played a meagre 170 minutes for Los Blancos. He is yet to start a game. Even with the club suffering from injury issues all across the front line, head coach Carlo Ancelotti has been reluctant to give the Brazilian a proper run-out.

Instead, this is a player feeding off scraps, a €60 million signing left to watch from the bench, or make the most of sparing minutes at the ends of games. Rhythm, experience and confidence are all so vital for a player of Endrick’s age – especially with the pressure of a big club on his back. And perhaps it’s time for the easy solution; an Endrick loan, something that was teased in the summer, has never made more sense.

Promising early signs

It’s hard to outline what, exactly, would be considered a success for Endrick – especially in the early days of his Madrid career. After all, in such a busy dressing room that also included attacking mavericks such as Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham, bench minutes was always going to be the most likely outcome.

In the early goings, he made the most of it. Endrick only got five minutes in his Blancos debut – against Valladolid on August 25 – but impressed immediately. He was a livewire from the second he entered the pitch, all energy and pressing. And, accordingly, he got his reward. Five touches – one to control the ball, three to turn and cut in, and a final one to shoot – secured a fine debut goal. Yes, the goalkeeper probably should have saved it, but it didn’t really matter. Endrick had arrived.

What followed was a series of interesting appearances off the bench. His introduction allowed for a late rest for Rodrygo, Mbappe or Vinicius, and stretched opposition defences late on. He needed 12 minutes of electric football to get off five shots – and was good value for his Brazil call-up for the September international break.

That was only backed up, a month later, by a well-taken goal against Stuttgart to help secure a 3-1 Champions League win. The kid had arrived.