GOAL
Real Madrid’s new marquee teenage signing has ended the season in style after enduring a rough few months
In October 2022, Endrick was the hottest commodity in Brazilian football. The forward, then 16, made his top-flight debut for league winners Palmeiras after years of impressing for the club’s youth sides. Later that month, he bagged a brace against Athletico Paranaense to become the youngest goalscorer in Brazilian Serie A history.
He wasn’t exactly unknown – Real Madrid had been pursuing Endrick for nearly a year – but Endrick seemed to be on the verge of superstardom. Los Blancos, accordingly, pounced as soon as Palmeiras were willing to negotiate, paying the Brazilian club €60 million (£52m/$64m) to secure his services starting in summer 2024 – a record fee for a Brasilerao side.
And it’s been something of a mixed year since then. Endrick endured a miserable start to the campaign and experienced a middling few months. But recently, though, the teenager has come alive, and looked like the future star many expect him to become.
It all amounts to the arc of a young player growing his way into the game, and navigating the standard highs and lows that come with being so good, so young.
GOAL takes a look inside Endrick’s tumultuous, yet successful, 2023…
December 2022: Madrid make their move
After much speculation – and lengthy transfer pursuit from a number of Europe’s top clubs – Madrid sealed the signature of Palmeiras’ hottest prospect during the 2022 World Cup. They shelled out €60m (£52m/$64m) for the youngster, coordinating with the same scout who found Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Federico Valverde to seal the deal.
It didn’t matter that the teenager had only made his first team debut two months previously. Madrid had been working on the transfer for years, and paid a premium to get their man.
January 2023: Palmeiras sell key players
Still, the 16-year-old wasn’t guaranteed to be a first team regular. Far from it. Palmeiras had a number of more experienced options who seemed likely to keep Endrick out of the side, stunting his growth before it could properly begin.
But that changed with the sales of Danilo and Gustavo Scarpa to Nottingham Forest in January. Although neither was an out-and-out striker, they shouldered a solid chunk of attacking load. Their departures, then, opened a spot for Endrick to thrive.
Spring 2023: Extended goal drought
But it didn’t go smoothly for the teenager. Endrick’s struggles started almost immediately after he agreed a deal with Madrid, the 16-year-old embarking on a lengthy goalless spell. Most of it seemed to be self-inflicted, as Endrick looked like he was trying to do too much for his team.
The numbers were undoubtedly concerning, though. Endrick started eight of 10 games to open the season, failed to register a goal contribution, and missed four big chances. It mattered little that his side were struggling without attacking talent around the youngster; this was a soon-to-be Real Madrid player who simply couldn’t find the back of the net.
February 2023: Tears on the bench
And it seemed to catch up with the youngster. Endrick was pictured crying on the bench after his run of games without a goal hit double digits, the image of a future Madridista covering his eyes on the sideline going viral.
He was swiftly defended by his manager, Abel Ferreira, who admitted that he should “have given Endrick a hug” following his removal from the contest. The manager also called for patience with his starlet, well aware of the pressures placed on him by the historic transfer fee…
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