Endrick, the Brazilian forward for Real Madrid, is set to face renewed competition for a place in the squad under new manager Jose Mourinho. Despite arriving as a highly-rated young talent, the 19-year-old has frequently had to contend for playing time.
This situation is not new for Endrick, who experienced challenges securing regular minutes during his initial season under Carlo Ancelotti. During that period, he scored seven goals and provided one assist. His second campaign was further complicated by a pre-season injury, which led to fewer opportunities as Xabi Alonso showed greater confidence in Gonzalo Garcia. This prompted the club to arrange a winter loan move to Lyon.
The loan spell proved beneficial for Endrick, as he registered eight goals and eight assists in the latter half of the season. These performances helped him secure a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad and reinforced Real Madrid’s long-term plans for him.
World Cup and Mourinho’s Plans
However, Endrick’s momentum has recently slowed during the World Cup. He has only featured for 34 minutes during the group stage, making brief substitute appearances against Haiti and Scotland, as Ancelotti opted for other attacking options.
Upon the conclusion of the tournament, Endrick will face another challenge at Real Madrid. New manager Jose Mourinho has reportedly expressed a desire for an additional striker who can provide a more traditional penalty-box presence, similar to the role previously filled by Joselu. While signing a new centre-forward is not an immediate priority, there is a possibility that the club could promote academy product Gonzalo Garcia to that position.
Gonzalo Garcia, who was previously expected to leave this summer, is now being reconsidered. Mourinho intends to evaluate Gonzalo Garcia during pre-season before making a final decision. Garcia had a notable season in the 2025-26 campaign, scoring eight goals for the capital club.
Endrick’s Role and Future
Despite the increased competition, Real Madrid’s confidence in Endrick remains strong. The club continues to view him as a significant long-term signing and expects him to be part of the squad for the upcoming season. Nevertheless, Gonzalo’s potential emergence could reduce Endrick’s opportunities through the middle of the attack.
There is a possibility that Endrick could find more playing time on the right side of the attack, especially as Rodrygo continues his recovery from injury. Additional opportunities might also arise if highly-rated youngster Franco Mastantuono departs on loan.
Mourinho is reportedly keen to retain Endrick in the Spanish capital for both the short and long term. Reports suggest that any future striker arrivals are not expected to diminish Endrick’s importance, as he is considered central to Mourinho’s long-term strategy due to his versatility in playing both centrally and on the right wing. Real Madrid’s immediate focus is also on acquiring a new centre-back and a creative midfielder.
For Endrick, securing a consistent place in Real Madrid’s squad will require patience, resilience, and the ability to capitalize on every opportunity that comes his way, particularly during the upcoming pre-season under Jose Mourinho.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
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