It’s not normal for Endrick to be Real Madrid’s last option in attack
Few minutes with Ancelotti say more about unrealistic expectations than about the potential of the young Brazilian star
In Real Madrid’s opening La Liga games, Endrick has been Carlo Ancelotti’s last substitution, always coming off the bench in the 40th minute of the second half. Not even the lightning goal he scored on his official debut against Valladolid was enough to earn him more playing time.
Against Betis this Sunday, the young Brazilian striker only came on in the 43rd minute of the second half, with the game already decided by two goals from Mbappé. He once again showed opportunism, forcing goalkeeper Rui Silva to make a good save on his first play.
It may seem like little to fans who, instigated by the immediacy of social media, have become accustomed to cultivating unrealistic expectations in football, but Endrick’s start at Real Madrid is absolutely off the charts, with solid indications that all the potential demonstrated at Palmeiras has a great chance of being fulfilled in Europe.
It’s always worth remembering that the star player who came through the Academy has just turned 18. At that age, players are still in the process of being formed, no matter how popular and promising they may be. In Endrick’s case, there is another factor that conditions Ancelotti’s caution in not rushing ahead.
Current Spanish and European champions, Real Madrid have a winning base, recently reinforced by none other than one of the best players in the world. It is more than natural and acceptable that Endrick begins his European career as a backup not only to Kylian Mbappé, but also at the end of the line in a hierarchy that values names that have rendered services to the club.
Modric, Brahim Díaz and even Arda Güler, a year older than Endrick and signed last season, are being given priority at the start of the season, even though they play in different positions in the Real Madrid attack. This is also part of Ancelotti’s way of rotating and motivating the squad, as a coach who is fond of a good internal environment.
When they arrived in Madrid, both Vini Jr. and Rodrygo had to wait and gradually earn their place in the team. Not long ago, young players signed for a fortune by Real Madrid used to go through a kind of internship with the B team, Castilla, before making their debut in the main squad. Thanks to the talent and precocity of the Brazilians, this stage has been dispensed with.
In any case, European football still demands proof of persistence from young players who need to adapt to a new reality. Vitor Roque, for example, was loaned by Barcelona to Betis and came on in the second half against Real Madrid. This does not mean that, at 19 years of age, he is doomed to failure in Europe. It is a more than normal step in his career cycle.
What is definitely not normal is for a striker who is only 18 years old to be on the roster of the biggest club in the world, to have already played minutes and scored a goal wearing the Madrid jersey and to be able to score opportunities in a winning team, even if he is the last option on the bench. With such a prodigy, Endrick makes the exceptional seem trivial.
