Author – Amrit Santlani
Real Madrid’s Brazilian jewel, Endrick, who recently sealed a £60 million move to the Santiago Bernabéu, has opened up about how his life has changed since his decision to join Real Madrid. The 16-year-old revealed that there is already growing pressure, with people talking about him constantly, and also rejected comparisons with Brazilian legend Pelé.
The La Liga giants have announced that they have reached an agreement with Palmeiras to sign his mammoth contract, although Endrick will remain in Brazil and will only arrive in the Spanish capital when he turns 18 in July 2024.
Since sealing the switch, Endrick has suffered a slump in form, scoring his first goal in five months when he came on as a second-half substitute during Palmeiras’ 2-1 defeat to Água Santa.
Endrick gave an interview to the Brazilian edition of GQ magazine, discussing the pressure he has faced since arriving at Real Madrid and how he is working hard to silence his critics.
“I need to keep working, that’s what (Palmeiras coach) Abel Ferreira is asking of me. I’m an adult, just like the other players in the squad. No one should feel sorry for me or pat me on the head” said the teenager.
He continued: “I used to be aware of what people said about me. But no more. I like TikTok, but when I see something about myself, I move on quickly.”
Since the youngster’s move to the Spanish capital was confirmed, he has made 12 appearances for Palmeiras in the 2023 Campeonato Paulista, eight as a starter and four as a substitute.
“Recently there was a story saying that I was in therapy, but that’s a lie. The press doesn’t know what’s going on and they publish it. But there’s nothing I can do. If I go out and contradict everything they say, I’d spend all my time doing it“, said the 16-year-old about how he is coping with the pressure from the media.
Having secured a successful move to Real Madrid at such a young age, Endrick has been compared to the legendary Pelé, but the Palmeiras striker couldn’t care less.
“Sometimes I ask myself: why are there so many stories about me? I didn’t ask for that. There are situations that cross the line” he added.
“Oh, he’s the new Pelé.’Man, nobody’s going to be Pelé, he’s the king of soccer,” said Endrick.
He is considered one of the country’s most promising prospects and, having made his Palmeiras debut at the age of 16 last October, the teenager has become the youngest goalscorer in the club’s history. With so much buzz growing around the young forward, Madrid have acted quickly to secure his services, maintaining their penchant for signing the next ‘Neymar’, having already chosen the likes of Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Reinier Jesus from Brazil.
A player who is known to idolize Cristiano Ronaldo, Endrick could well be Real Madrid’s successor to Karim Benzema, although he will need some time to adapt.