LALIGA
How did Real Madrid beat Paris Saint-Germain to the signing of Brazil star Endrick?
The Palmeiras teenager will move to Los Blancos in July 2024 but was also wanted by PSG and Premier League side Chelsea.
Brazilian sensation Endrick is currently having the best spell of his (very) young career. The Palmeiras forward, who will move to Real Madrid next summer, has scored 12 goals in all competitions for his club this season and is getting better and better as the weeks go by. Something which hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Brazil national team.
Interim head coach Fernando Diniz gave the 17-year-old his international debut in the final eight minutes of Thursday’s 2-1 defeat to Colombia and the attacker could see more game time in Tuesday’s mouthwatering World Cup 2026 qualifier at home to Argentina at Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro.
How much did PSG offer for Endrick and Estevão?
Of course, Europe’s biggest clubs were well aware of Endrick’s talents long before he was called up to represent his country. Real Madrid ultimately won the race for his signature, but Italian journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed they had to fight off fierce competition to get the teenager.
A year ago, says Romano, Paris Saint-Germain submitted an offer to Palmeiras for both Endrick and 16-year-old Estevão, who has yet to make his first-team debut. The Ligue 1 champions reportedly bid €93 million for the youngsters, €58 million of which was for the elder of the two, but the Brazilian club rejected their advances, believing they will be able to sell Estevão for considerably more than €35 million in future given his potential.
Why did Endrick choose Real Madrid?
Last November, Chelsea also attempted to tempt Endrick to the Premier League having monitored the forward over a long period of time, despite his tender years. The Londoners invited the player and his family to visit the club and its facilities with a view to signing him, but, Romano claims, the teenager’s only desire was to join Real Madrid, with chief scout Juni Calafat, who has strong links to Brazil, helping get the deal over the line.
In December 2022, Los Blancos agreed a deal to ensure Endrick would move to Spain in July 2024, the very month he turns 18-years-old. He will join fellow Brazilian internationals Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Eder Militão at the Santiago Bernabéu.