Ronaldo back, Endrick inbound: Real Madrid still need a striker!

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 23 May 2023 09:00 CDT
• 4 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo is training with Real Madrid. Endrick has agreed a €72m transfer from Palmeiras. Neither solve a problem position for the European champions.

Ronaldo is Real's record scorer with a barely fathomable 450 goals from 438 games between 2009 and 2018 while Endrick was the most in-demand young striker in world football before Madrid agreed a deal with him on Thursday.

But the former is a fading force, and the latter isn't allowed to join until he turns 18 in the summer of 2024. Karim Benzema, Real's incumbent No.9, won the Ballon d'Or in October, but has missed 12 games since, including the World Cup with France, with injury.

READ: Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Real Madrid

With Benzema out and no other striker available, Real trundled into the winter break with Rodrygo - normally a winger - leading the line, and gave up top spot in La Liga to Barcelona, who now enjoy a two-point cushion.

Real need a striker now if they are to retain their Spanish and European titles this season, and Ronaldo is no longer the solution. He has been told he is "always welcome" in Madrid, and speculation is growing that he could have one last swansong.

But would Ronaldo help should Benzema's hip and quadricep problems continue? The suspicion is that he wouldn't. Erik ten Hag perhaps never gave him a fair shake at Manchester United, but the fact that his attacking production slowed to three goals in 16 appearances suggests the Dutchman may have had a point.

One goal for Portugal at the World Cup - a penalty - before getting dropped for Goncalo Ramos, shouldn't exactly fill Real with confidence either.

READ: Why Erling Haaland is no longer a transfer priority for Real Madrid

Where do Real Madrid go from there?

Erling Haaland has long been tagged as a potential Real Madrid striker, and his father and agent Alfie recently conceded that he might look for a new project after a couple of seasons with Manchester City, for whom he has scored 23 goals in 18 games since his €60m arrival from Borussia Dortmund.

But he would be astronomically expensive if not impossible to acquire now, and Endrick would reportedly only agree to join Real ahead of Chelsea, PSG and a host of other suitors on the promise that there wasn't a player in his position in his way.

— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) November 24, 2022

The World Cup may have thrown up a couple of potential solutions. Richarlison must be the first Brazil No.9 in history to lead the line for the Selecao at the World Cup whilst not getting his game in his preferred position at club level. He only joined Tottenham Hotspur from Everton in the summer, but with Harry Kane in his way, a move could suit player and club.

If Daniel Levy is as hard-nosed as ever in transfer negotiations, Real already have a potential solution on their books in Marco Asensio. Normally a winger, like Rodrygo, Asensio was used up front by Spain and found the target in their 7-0 destruction of Keylor Navas' Costa Rica in the group stage.

Asensio is out of contract at the end of the season, but rejuvenating his career or paying over the odds for Richarlison whilst Benzema recovers would be better than risking the house on Ronaldo whilst waiting for Endrick to come of age.