Palmeiras Star Endrick Is Next In Line

It’s no great secret that Brazil is a hotbed for footballing talent. A shop window for the world and home to some of the greats of football’s past, present and future.

From Ronaldo to Ronaldinho and Neymar to Vinicius Junior, year after year the finest young talents in football burst onto the scene in Brazil, but who is next on the never-ending list of unbelievable emerging talent?

The heir to the throne might well go by the name Endrick. Though this bright young star still wears the green of Palmeiras in Brazil’s Serie A every week, it is only on a temporary basis. At the tender age of just 16 Endrick became the subject of a successful $40 million transfer bid from European Giants Real Madrid, and that figure could rise further to $70 million if all of the clauses in his contract are met.

Endrick’s Madrid deal was agreed in December 2022, however in reality his big move is still around a year away. Not until July 2024 will Endrick make his way to Madrid to become a permanent member of what is possibly the biggest club in world football. Until then, the now 17 year-old, will continue his development at Palmeiras.

Endrick is a left-footed forward who can operate centrally or on the wing. He is fast, skilful and shows a high football IQ and level of maturity for somebody so young. He has been tipped by many as a future star, and it is needless to say that if Real Madrid spend millions on a teenager that he is ludicrously talented.

Real Madrid, famously, have an eye for a player in Brazil. They have a history of bringing over promising talent from the country thanks to a vast scouting network and of course; their deep pockets. In recent years Real signed Rodrygo from Santos and Vinicius Junior from Flamengo; both for transfer fees in the region of $50 million. These moves have proved to be great successes.

Vinicius Junior scored the winning goal for Real in the 2022 Champions League Final against Liverpool in Paris. He is now proving that he is one of the top ten talents in world football. Week in, week out. Rodrygo has also played his part in the Real Madrid European dominance. He was key in the semi-final comeback against Manchester City that took Real to the final. One day Endrick will hope to have a similar impact.

The sterling talent is being managed patiently by Palmeiras, and with good reason too. Endrick is still so young and has a lot to learn. For now he should be enjoying his football and improving technically and physically, without being overwhelmed mentally if possible, as there is a lot more of his career to come.

If things go to plan for Endrick he could be featuring for Real Madrid in the Champions League as a teenager, and perhaps soon after that; starring for the Brazilian national team. Pressure and expectation is sure to pour down on this young man in the years to come, but he has the talent and the character to swim instead of sink.

Endrick plays football with a mischievous charm. He will often leave defenders visibly livid to the point of no return, as he flicks the ball over their head and glides past them to pick it up on the other side. His feet are fast, but his mind works even faster.

Endrick is armed with all of the typical flicks and tricks one would imagine of a Brazilian forward, but he also has a stocky frame and a low centre of gravity that enables him to push past defenders much bigger than he is. His awareness of the game is excellent and in the box he knows how to be in the right place at the right time.

It’s remarkable that the forward was born in 2006 and yet he is already scoring goals in the Copa Libertadores. With 7 goals in all competitions for Palmeiras this year Endrick could certainly be more clinical, but even the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi needed a few years to get into a consistent goalscoring rhythm.

Endrick has a year left in Brazil, to learn and to grow. The bright lights and superstardom will follow, let’s hope he is up to the challenge.