Will Endrick, a Real Madrid player, repeat the experience of his countryman Roque, Barcelona's outcast?
Endrick, a young Brazilian who plays for Real Madrid, is attempting to avoid the same fate as his countryman Vitor Roque, who failed to establish himself with the "Catalan" squad and transferred to Barcelona in the winter of 2024 before spending a season on loan at Real Betis in the summer of Mercato.
Beginning with the current season, which is expected to mark the beginning of an era full of goals and fierce competition for stardom among the players, there has been much discussion in recent years about Endrick (18 years old) and Roque (19 years old) being the future stars and leading the attack of Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively.
However, the Spanish daily "Marca" said that "they shared the same dream in different shirts, but it turned into something more like a nightmare," indicating that the reality on the ground has drastically changed.
Endrick's lack of playing time in his first season with Real Madrid is a result of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti's decision to exclude him from the Brazilian national team roster during the break. He has only played 122 minutes in 10 games across all competitions this season (La Liga, Champions League, and European Super Cup), scoring two goals in those games.
"Marca" claims that former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez did not seek to include Rocky in the first place since he did not fit his style. As a result, he gave the young players from the La Masia Academy more playing time at the cost of the Brazilian player.
Rocky played 353 minutes for Barcelona in 16 games between "La Liga" and the Spanish King's Cup, but he only managed two goals. This earned him harsh criticism from the "Catalan" press, and he was eventually loaned to Real Betis in an effort to increase his playing time and better fit Spanish football.
"Since I have known the club, I have never remembered such a violent attack on a young player of 18 years old," said Deco, the sports director for Barcelona, in support of Roque. I'm not sure where this criticism came from or whether it was directed at the team or at me specifically. Real Madrid player Endrick did not want what happened to Roque to happen to him, so he tried to handle his current predicament in his own way. He avoided the commotion around him, declined to address the criticism of Ancelotti, who uses the same players in every game, and gave his full attention to improving himself in training. "Marca" asserts that Endrick needs to maximize his future playing time in order to establish himself, which the player who scored a goal for Real Madrid in his debut league game against Valladolid in "La Liga" is capable of doing despite playing just four minutes.
The Real Madrid player tried to handle his current circumstances in his own way by avoiding the commotion around him, refusing to comment on the criticism aimed at Ancelotti, who uses the same players in every game, and concentrating all of his attention on improving himself in training. Endrick did not want what happened to Roque to happen to him.
"Marca" asserts that Endrick needs to maximize his future playing time in order to establish himself, which the player who scored a goal for Real Madrid in his debut league game against Valladolid in "La Liga" is capable of doing despite playing just four minutes. Marca draws the conclusion that "Endrick's efficiency and his shooting choices encapsulate the player's wish to leave a positive impression at the Santiago Bernabéu. The fans would adore the Brazilian if similar incidents were repeated. Endrick did the same in his debut Champions League game with Real Madrid, scoring against Stuttgart in the opening round of the league stage despite playing just ten minutes.