Endrick arrived at Real Madrid in July 2024, shortly after turning 18, following a transfer agreed with Palmeiras 18 months earlier. Expectations were huge: Brazil’s next superstar and a new Galáctico. He showed promise in his debut season — 37 appearances in all competitions (mostly from the bench), seven goals and clear finishing ability — but his minutes were limited, totalling just 352 in La Liga as Real used him mainly as a late substitute.
Progress has since stalled. A hamstring injury in May ruled him out of the Club World Cup and a recurrence delayed the start of his following season. Under new coach Xabi Alonso he has found opportunities scarce: this term he has featured only once for around 14 minutes, and he has been left out of several recent Brazil squads, leaving his international standing under threat as other young Brazilians rise.
Why the slowdown? Alonso appears to value players who contribute to build-up and link play across the front line, which has reduced Endrick’s chances compared with teammates seen as more rounded attackers. Observers note that while Endrick’s finishing is a major strength, he still needs to improve his all-round game to win a regular sta
