Earlier this year, Real Madrid signed 18-year-old Brazilian wonderkid Endrick from Palmeiras. Endrick had shown exceptional talent as a player. Since joining Real Madrid, he has had limited game time – in his last five matches, he was only allowed to play a combined total of 20 minutes. Yet, he scored two goals in those 20 minutes. His outstanding performance came against Stuttgart in the Champions League. He was brought on in the 80th minute and scored a stunning long-range goal in stoppage time. This made him the youngest Real Madrid player in history to score in the Champions League.
Since the start of the season, Endrick has only played 40 minutes across seven games and, in the Champions League, 67 minutes across two games. He has had very little time to showcase his talent.
Given these statistics, it is evident that Endrick exudes talent, and his explosive style of play could be a great asset to the lineup if utilised well. Endrick faces stiff competition for a place in the forward line of Real Madrid, which consists of stalwarts Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Júnior, and Rodrygo. It is difficult for him to break into the team. Nevertheless, his future seems extremely promising.
Even Mbappé was once an obscure figure. His stellar performances, despite the odds, led him to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or in 2018. He was, however, awarded the Kopa Trophy just two years after his debut.
Endrick has been highly praised by manager Carlo Ancelotti and has already carved out a place for himself in the Brazilian national team at a young age. He could very well fill the gap left by Neymar. Football enthusiasts are hopeful that Endrick’s potential will be fully utilised this season. For the defending Champions League holders, he could play a key role in retaining the title. His ability to perform under immense pressure is an asset that many top players struggle with, and his never-give-up mentality is invaluable. It would be a loss for both Real Madrid and the football world not to field him. Benching him is both demoralising and a waste of talent. They did the same with Gareth Bale, who was benched for a year, though Bale made a strong comeback at Tottenham Hotspur.
Endrick’s career remains promising, and he will undoubtedly be a joy to watch for the rest of the season. He is set to become an asset to world football. Let’s hope Florentino Pérez realises this.
Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
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