Romano reveals Real Madrid’s Endrick plan after Mbappe signing

Robin Bairner

• 22 Feb 2024 04:38 CST
• 3 min read

Kylian Mbappe’s imminent arrival at Real Madrid has the potential to derail Endrick’s hopes of making an impression at the Bernabeu, with Fabrizio Romano lifting the lid on what the future holds for the young Brazilian.

Mbappe is fully expected to join Los Blancos on a free transfer from PSG this summer, but this deal throws into doubt what role Endrick may have at the club.

The World Cup winner will, like Cristiano Ronaldo before him, expect to play every minute of every game.

This is bad news for Endrick, who is forecast to arrive at Real Madrid in the summer after a deal was struck with Palmeiras in December 2022 for a €60 million transfer. Underaged at the time, the twice-capped Brazil international has been forced to wait until his 18th birthday before completing a move, yet Mbappe is a roadblock to game time for him.

Real Madrid's 'clear plan' for Endrick

Romano has explained how the arrival of the Frenchman will impact the teenager.

“There have been reports of Endrick staying in Brazil with Palmeiras until the end of the current Brazilian season, so until the end of December. So this would mean Endrick not joining Real Madrid in the summer, but next January,” Romano explains to the Daily Briefing.

“Still, the answer I’m getting from sources on this Endrick story is that it’s impossible, there is no chance. The agents of Endrick guarantee that the striker will join Real Madrid this summer, and there has not even been a request from Palmeiras to sign him on loan because they know it’s impossible.

“So, despite these stories, and despite the very advanced negotiation between Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe, it doesn’t change anything on Endrick. The plan remains very clear, and that is for Endrick to join Real Madrid in the summer and play for his new club from the start of the 2024/25 season.”

Having Endrick on their books, however, will not solve a looming issue for Los Blancos: how to keep both players happy.

Initially, the Brazilian is likely to be satisfied with a backup role, but how long will this be the case for the prodigious young talent?

There are solutions. A switch in formation could accommodate both, but with two centre-forwards, how will Vini Junior and Rodrygo fit in?

It is a problem that Real Madrid will, nonetheless, welcome.