Almost a year has passed since Endrick fulfilled his childhood dream — and that’s not just a figure of speech.
After the Brazilian signed for Real Madrid on December 15, 2022, a video appeared of him, aged 11 back in the summer of 2017, predicting he would one day do exactly that.
Now 17, this week he visited what will soon become his new home — he will join the Spanish side in July, when he turns 18.
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Speaking to The Athletic, Endrick mentions “the history of the club, the good players that were part of it, everything they have won” when explaining his excitement over soon becoming a Los Blancos player.
That excitement is shared at Madrid, who agreed a €35million (£30m; $38.3m) deal with Palmeiras last year that also includes a further €25m in possible variables, €7.5m of which has already been triggered. This year, Endrick has only further demonstrated his great potential — but there have been a few bumps in the road, too.
Endrick only started five of Palmeiras’ first 36 games of 2023 in the Brazilian league and Copa Libertadores. But he became a more regular starter after October and was prominent in helping Palmeiras turn their season around to claim a second consecutive Brasileirao title earlier this month. He also made his senior Brazil bow in November — becoming the country’s fourth-youngest debutant.
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Endrick says he had some low moments, but that he always felt the support of everyone at Palmeiras. “I have to mention Raphael Veiga (one of his team-mates) and Abel Ferreira (the manager),” he says. “I felt that better moments were to come, they said, ‘Keep it up’, and that’s what happened.”
In fact, throughout our interview, Endrick is keen to emphasise and thank the “entire team” around him for helping him progress, including the staff at agency Roc Nation Sports, which also represents Vinicius Junior.
“I have a physiotherapist, a personal trainer, a social media consultant, a media consultant, a nutritionist and a chef,” he says. “All of them have helped me to become a better footballer.”
He seems focused, cautious and very polite. He also credits the “support” he gets from his family. “The best way of keeping my mental health is being supported by them,” he says. “They provide for my mental health, which is wonderful. I do not have a psychologist, but there is one in Palmeiras.”
His physique has always been much talked about, with the muscularity of his legs especially noted. “It’s genetics,” he says. “I’ve always been like that.”
Another key figure in Endrick’s story so far is Madrid’s chief scout Juni Calafat, with whom he still has a close bond.
“Juni comes to Brazil every two months,” Endrick says. “He usually comes to my house, we have lunch and talk about football, about me, Palmeiras, Real Madrid and world football in general. He always reassures me and gives me confidence, even in the most difficult moments.”
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Even with Calafat’s strong backing, Madrid’s 2022 deal for Endrick was delayed slightly while club president Florentino Perez gave his final OK. Chelsea were close to signing him, as Douglas Ramos, Endrick’s father, revealed in a recent interview with The Guardian. “We had some doubts,” a senior Real Madrid source said, speaking anonymously to protect relationships.
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“At one point, there was a lot of talk about Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe for Madrid and that was when there was strong interest from Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain,” Endrick says.
“Of course, they are big and important teams. I am very interested in them and they would be excellent options. I was attracted by the Premier League, the city of London and the fact that English is the economically dominant language in the world. And obviously Chelsea is a strong brand that has won two Champions Leagues.
“I was told that it rains a lot in London, but that wouldn’t be a problem because, as my father used to say, I always liked playing in the rain. But I always made it clear to my agent that my dream was Real Madrid.”
Before travelling to Madrid this past week, Endrick had spoken to Perez only once, in an early November video call arranged after Palmeiras’ 4-3 victory over Botafogo, direct rivals for the league title, in which he scored twice.
“We had planned for a long time that I would go to Madrid to see Valdebebas and my future team-mates,” Endrick says. “To experience Real Madrid vs Villarreal at the new Santiago Bernabeu and talk to Florentino was incredible.”
Last Saturday was also the second time he had spoken to Carlo Ancelotti. Asked whether he would prefer to have the Italian as coach at Madrid or with Brazil, he says: “Wherever he is happy, where he feels good, that’s where I want him to be.
🏠👀 A special visit!
🇧🇷 @Endrick
📍 #RMCity pic.twitter.com/Nvm8WdodgJ— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 16, 2023
“At least for me, it doesn’t matter where he’s going to be, because if he’s going to be happy at Real Madrid, or if he’s going to be happy in the Brazilian team, that’s what’s important and I see that for the team the most important thing is his happiness as a coach.”
Regarding the prospect of perhaps one day playing with Mbappe, in the context of Madrid’s long-standing interest in the Frenchman, with whom Endrick has compared himself, he replies: “Whenever there are high-level players within the team, the team will develop better, and consequently, it will be able to win in attitude, right?
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“So whatever is best for Real Madrid and the entire team, let it be done. I just want to be happy playing my football like I always wanted. Obviously, if I can play with Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo or Kylian (Mbappe) it will be something very good. But Florentino and all the people around him know what to do which will be better for the club.”
Speaking of Vinicius Jr, Endrick was outspoken about the persistent racist abuse his compatriot has faced in recent years in Spain. “My mother always told me that I’m Black, that if people talk about it I shouldn’t see it as something negative, and the more they talk about it, it’ll be their bad luck, because I’ll show my face and it won’t affect me,” he says.
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“It’s something that makes me sad when I see (the abuse directed towards) Vini Jr. I see that he is happy celebrating on the field, and I also like to celebrate by dancing, because that’s what Brazil is — it’s football with joy. I don’t think anything will take away our shine, and that we will continue to be happy and fight against racism.”
Endrick is expected to celebrate a lot in Madrid. The hype around him is enormous, and he has recently signed a commercial deal with New Balance, which saw off other suitors such as Nike.
“I’m just very happy to be part of this brand,” says Endrick. “I felt very excited to become a part of it — everybody and the people who are representing me as well.”
And again, family bonds come into it, too. “My mother was always looking for the best things for me and expecting the best things to happen for me. My dream has always been Real Madrid, since I was a kid, because my dad was always a fan, and so was I. Now I am 17 years old and have four titles with Palmeiras. That’s what I’m really proud of.
“In Madrid, I would like to win five Champions League titles and La Liga 10 times!”
(Top photo: Pedro Vilela/Getty Images)