Endrick Staying at Real Madrid: Smart Move or Career Mistake?

Just a few years ago, Endrick was heralded as the next Pelé. Now, he is fighting for minutes at Real Madrid after two largely unsuccessful seasons.

The Brazilian arrived to the Spanish capital in the summer of 2024, officially joining the club upon his coming of age after pledging his future to the Bernabéu at 16 years old. Expectations were sky high for the forward following the success fellow countrymen Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo brought to the team.

What started as a promising debut campaign suddenly faltered as the season progressed, especially as former boss Carlo Ancelotti prioritized playing veterans over the young players he keep rooted to the bench. Endrick was hoping for a clean slate in 2025–26, but an injury kept him out of the Club World Cup and new manager Xabi Alonso preferred Gonzalo García.

By the time winter came, Endrick had just three appearances to his name. The teenager soon joined Lyon and reminded the world why he was so highly touted. He recorded 16 goal contributions in 21 appearances and returned to the Bernabéu ready to stake his claim as Kylian Mbappé’s backup, the path clear after Gonzalo transferred to Fulham.

Except Real Madrid, now under José Mourinho’s rule, signed natural No. 9 Carlos Espí this summer. Suddenly, Endrick once again was staring down a future of trying to scrap for playing time.

Potential suitors emerged to try and snag the 20-year-old on loan, with Aston Villa leading the charge, but Endrick reportedly decided to stay with Los Blancos. But did he make the right call?

The Pros of Endrick Staying at the Bernabeu

Endrick comes into the 2026–27 season in top form. Over the last eight months, the striker lit up Ligue 1, represented Brazil at the 2026 World Cup and already found the back of the net in preseason for Real Madrid.

Since Mourinho took charge, Endrick started two of the club’s three preseason fixtures, only missing out against Leganés because he was not yet back with the team. He is already proving himself to the Portuguese boss, who reportedly wanted the teenager to remain in the Spanish capital.

Despite Espí’s arrival, Endrick is in pole position to be Mbappé’s backup, and he can also gain minutes if Mourinho needs him to play on the right wing. The opportunity is there for the Brazilian to grow his game, whether he’s coming off the bench in the Champions League or starting Copa del Rey clashes—and he can finally do it with Real Madrid’s number nine splashed across his back.

Los Blancos also get to have a game-changer in their ranks, a player who can create a moment of magic with his left foot out of seemingly nothing. Endrick comes with explosive speed as well, capable of catching even the best defenses out in transition.

For a team that struggled to consistently score goals last season, having a player like Endrick available is nothing but a positive for Los Blancos.

The Cons of Endrick Staying at the Bernabéu

While the opportunity is there for Endrick to finally shine in a white shirt, there is also a great risk of him failing for a third straight season—and it might not even be his fault. Should Mourinho decide he wants a player of Espí’s stature to ultimately be his backup striker, then Endrick is once again pushed to the bench.

After all, Espí’s height and ability to score headers make him the perfect target for set pieces if Real Madrid need a late goal. It would be only natural for Mourinho to deploy the former Levante man instead of Endrick if that type of situation calls.

It might not sound like the end of the world, but every minute counts for a player forced to wait behind Mbappé, who will start almost every match for the Spanish giants. Getting overlooked, no matter the logic behind the decision, could be a slippery slope for Endrick.

There’s also still question marks about the Brazilian’s physicality. Endrick previously struggled in La Liga, getting bullied by bigger players intent on disrupting the small striker. His height makes him a target, and he never truly proved he can deal with the added attention.

Endrick was much freer playing in France against inferior defenses than the ones present in the Spanish top flight. If he struggles again and cannot produce, Mourinho will not hesitate to bench him, which would be a devastating setback for the 20-year-old.

Are Endrick, Real Madrid Making the Right Decision?

Despite the ways it could go wrong, Endrick staying at Real Madrid is ultimately a good thing for both the player and the club. Leaving the Spanish capital when he finally has a boss who believes in him would simply be counterproductive to what he wants to achieve.

Should the decision go drastically wrong like it did in the first half of last season, Endrick can always go out on loan in the winter—a move the club would no doubt support if the striker is not earning enough minutes.

Los Blancos need to finally play their role in developing the young talent, who can bring clinical finishing and dynamism to a frontline that failed to impress far too often over the last two seasons. Endrick will be even more needed if new signing Yan Diomande gets off to a slow start.

Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior have proven time and time again that they can only do so much; sometimes the team needs someone else to step up, and Endrick is the perfect candidate. His presence would also help give the Frenchman a rest so he doesn’t have to log outrageous minutes and risk injury like he did in 2025–26.

Make no mistake, this season could be make or break for Endrick—but he deserves the chance to make or break his own future at Real Madrid.

Add us as a preferred source on Google