REAL MADRID
Real Madrid following Bellingham, Güler playbook with Endrick preparations
Real Madrid remain in constant contact with forward Endrick, reassuring the 17-year-old after Palmeiras’ Copa Libertadores defeat to Boca Juniors this week.
As Real Madrid’s policy of snapping up the stars of the future continues, Palmeiras teenager Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa is the next in line to arrive at the Bernabéu.
Due to join Madrid in 2024, once he has turned 18 next July, the forward suffered Copa Libertadores heartbreak last midweek, as Brazilians Palmeiras lost on penalties to Argentina’s Boca Juniors in the semi-finals of South America’s elite club competition.
You can watch the Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors vs Fluminense live stream on FuboTV (free trial available)
Real reach out to Endrick after Libertadores loss
For Endrick, the agony of defeat was exacerbated by the knowledge that, late on in normal time, with the scores level, he had wasted a fine chance to win the tie for Palmeiras, over-elaborating in the Boca penalty area.
Madrid, who are in constant contact with Endrick and his camp, were quick to reassure their future recruit, telling him: don’t worry about it.
Madrid getting Endrick ready for life in LaLiga
Madrid’s belief in the Brazilian Under-20 international, whose signing for an initial €35m ($37m) fee was confirmed in December, remains undimmed: proof of that faith can be seen in the repeated Brazil trips taken by club representatives to lay the ground for his arrival in Spain.
These preparatory visits not only involve discussions of on-the-pitch matters, but also deal with off-the-field considerations. For example, the LaLiga giants have been helping Endrick to find a house in the Spanish capital.
These trips follow the same playbook used by Madrid to prepare for the arrival of other youngsters, such as summer signings Jude Bellingham, 20, and Arda Güler, 18.
When he lands in Spain, Madrid’s plan for Endrick - whose signing also comes at a cost of €25m ($26.5m) in performance-based add-ons - is for him to spend the 2024 pre-season period with Los Blancos’ first team. The 14-time European champions will then decide whether to add him to next term’s senior squad or start him off with Castilla, the club’s second team.
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Vinícius, Rodrygo to look after Endrick
Were Endrick to begin life in Madrid with Castilla, he’d be following in the footsteps of fellow Brazilian forwards Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo Goes, who both initially had to wait for their first-team chance after joining the club.
A duo who have now been at Real Madrid for five and four years, respectively, Vinícius and Rodrygo have set about taking Endrick under their wing in advance of his move to the Bernabéu, and will be key to helping him settle in when he arrives.
Endrick enjoyed Vinícius’ company during the Christmas period, participating in informal games of soccer with him. Meanwhile, the 17-year-old spent time with Rodrygo before the 2022 World Cup, teaming up with him in an advert filmed by Brazil’s football federation.
You can watch the Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors vs Fluminense live stream on FuboTV (free trial available)
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