Endrick shares secret of early Madrid days, who were his friends and who he admired most

Real Madrid is a tough club to fit in at, especially for a teenager. Brazilian sensation Endrick had to figure that out the hard way, but he had some help from some of the biggest stars in the Bernabeu dressing room since day one.

Bellingham opened the door

The Olympic Lyon star, on loan from Los Blancos, sat down with The Guardian and shared some of his early experiences with the Spanish giants. He singled out Jude Bellingham as one of the players that made the biggest effort to welcome the Brazilian in his first few months at the club.

Madrid signed the Brazilian youngster in 2024 and he joined a dressing room full of world class players. One of the people who made him feel most at home as a 17 year old was Jude Bellingham who took him under his wing despite a language barrier. “Bellingham was really important to me. He made me feel welcome at the club. I didn’t speak English very well, but he spoke to me, tried to speak a bit of Spanish, was by my side and gave me advice.

He admitted to having some preconceived notions about the English midfielder which turned out to be completely unwarranted. “I had a certain impression of him before I arrived, but he was completely different. He’s an incredible player and an incredible person too, especially when it comes to friendship.”

A Modric masterclass

When he arrived at one of the biggest clubs in the world there was plenty to learn and plenty of players to learn from, but no one taught the Brazilian more than the eldest veteran on the squad. “Modric was the player who most impressed me at Real Madrid: 100%. He’s a guy who taught me a lot in my first year. Not just in training, but also in matches. It was a football masterclass,” said Endrick.

Endrick not only marveled in the Croatians ability, but also his work ethic. “He was 40 years old and very strong. He trained every day. When he wasn’t playing, he’d go to the club and train, doing his own extra training. The way he plays is incredible. He always gave me tips, telling me what I should do on the pitch. That helped me a lot. He was one of the most incredible guys I’ve ever met in football.”

Still 19, Endrick has plenty of time to prove himself at Real Madrid. After a success stint in Lyon in which he has scored seven goals and severed up six assists in all competitions, Los Blancos seem eager to bring him back to the Spanish capital next season.

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