Endrick’s arrival at Real Madrid was worth the wait. It did not match the clamour for Kylian Mbappe on July 16, but around 60,000 fans were at the Santiago Bernabeu for his unveiling — more than 18 months after a deal was struck with Palmeiras to sign him.
His signing for an initial €35million ($38m; £29m at current exchange rates) deal with a further €25m in possible variables was announced in December 2022 when Endrick was 16. Regulations did not allow the forward to arrive in Spain until he was 18.
Finally in Madrid, Endrick took centre stage for the first time and could not hold back the tears. He was lost for words — as were his entire family, who watched him from the front row among almost a dozen members of his agency and club executives.
“I didn’t want to cry, but I’ve loved Real Madrid since I was a child and it has come from my soul,” he said.
At that moment, he was not the great project of Brazilian football and the fourth-youngest debutant in their history: he was just Endrick, the son of Douglas and Cintia, a teenager who has fun playing football and suddenly the centre of attention in one of the biggest and most iconic stadiums in the world.
It was his third visit to the Santiago Bernabeu, but for all the sentimentality it didn’t feel like it.
The first was in December 2023, a year after his signing, as the club’s guest at the Real Madrid hosted Villarreal in a La Liga match.
The second came in March 2024 and was another step up, as he made his first appearance in what would become his home. It was in Brazil’s 3-3 draw with Spain in a friendly, entering the field at half-time and scoring within five minutes. There, the excitement of his future fans overflowed as they celebrated the goal as if he were playing for the home team.
So, what about his third appearance? “I didn’t expect so many people, because I have just arrived; when I saw that the stadium was full, I thought ‘These fans are incredible, it’s crazy,” Endrick said.
Endrick fought back tears as he addressed the crowd (Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
There were numerous Brazil and Palmeiras flags and shirts in the stands, and Madrid invited Orlando Leite Ribeiro, Brazil’s ambassador to Spain, to join the welcome. President Florentino Perez even asked Ribeiro to take the stage to immortalise the bond with a photo with a message of unity, after the problems in recent seasons due to repeated racist attacks on Vinicius Junior in different Spanish stadiums.
“Dear Endrick, despite your youth, you come to Real Madrid with an important background,” Perez said before going on to list the striker’s records with Brazil and Palmeiras.
It had been confirmed that Endrick would wear No 16 as he did at Palmeiras. As The Athletic reported, the striker likes the No 9, but that was chosen by Mbappe. If the Frenchman chooses the No 10 when Luka Modric leaves, the Brazil forward would like to inherit the No 9. That is still a long way off.
In the background, Endrick listened nervously to Perez, fidgeting and rubbing his hands together. A few minutes later, his voice would barely come out, nor would he dare to speak Spanish, even though he had planned to speak more in the language he had been studying intently.
Endrick was braver to imitate the “1, 2, 3… Hala Madrid!” created by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 and repeated by Mbappe, although nerves caused him to reverse the order and say “3, 2, 1… Hala Madrid!”.
“There was someone who came into my life, which was Cristiano Ronaldo, and it’s because of him that I wanted to know more about Real Madrid,” Endrick said.
Honorary president and club legend Pirri as well as chief executive Jose Angel Sanchez, chief scout and head of recruitment Juni Calafat and director of football Santiago Solari were all present for the unveiling. Florentino took Endrick by the hand and led him over to where Madrid’s 15 Champions League trophies were on show.
Endrick kissed the shield, complying with the fans’ request, to whom he gifted footballs while he did a lap of honour. Normally, this is done with subtle touches, but he struck them hard, reaching the second and third tiers of the stadium.
Endrick was greeted by 60,000 fans (Javier Soriano/AFP via Getty Images)
After leaving the Bernabeu, he celebrated with his family and entourage in Madrid. But the date did not last long, as within 24 hours he will be travelling with Madrid to the United States, where Carlo Ancelotti’s team will play three friendlies.
Endrick had asked to join the squad earlier and train with the rest of the squad at Valdebebas this week, but the Italian coach insisted that he should rest, given that his last Copa America game was on July 7.
He had wanted to arrive with as much rhythm as possible to aspire to more minutes in the first game on North American soil: to show himself to Ancelotti and the world. He is aware that when the rest of the internationals join the squad (his compatriots and friends Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo will do so on 2 August), the competition will increase.
When he boards the plane today, Endrick will be closing a dream week. Last Sunday, he turned 18, at which point he was able to sign his contract with Real Madrid. This is a process that is normally routine but which in this case had its special significance.
The initial agreement was for three years, the maximum allowed by regulations for minors, with an option for another three. This means that, if Endrick had had doubts about the Madrid project or another club had made him a crazy offer, he could have signed just until 2027 or forced Los Blancos to renegotiate the conditions. That circumstance was never an option.
Last Sunday, at his new home in the luxurious La Moraleja development, Endrick celebrated that signing and his birthday. His closest circle was there, with the absence of Calafat, who was in Rio de Janeiro to support a Vinicius Jr charity event.
It has been a long time coming, but Endrick is a Real player. “I hope to be at Real Madrid for my entire career”.
It now depends on him.
(Top photo: Javier Soriano/AFP via Getty Images)
