Updated: 3 Aug 2026 16:00 BST |
5 min read
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Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is unconvinced by Endrick, and Manchester United should be paying close attention to this developing situation.
The Brazilian headed into pre-season off the back of a hugely disappointing World Cup. Endrick was almost anonymous as Brazil crashed out against Norway in the round of 16, becoming a social media meme in the process.
Carlo Ancelotti was reluctant to use the 20-year-old, which continued a trend already seen at Real Madrid. Last season, Endrick barely played under Xabi Alonso until he was loaned to Lyon in January, where he experienced a mixed spell.
The appointment of Mourinho as Los Blancos manager was supposed to give the youngster a clean slate, but the Portuguese legend’s objective is clear: to win silverware as soon as possible.
Consequently, he is betting on experience and proven quality rather than youth and potential. Despite a nicely taken goal in a friendly against Fiorentina, it appears as though Endrick has yet to impress Mourinho.
Endrick could leave Real Madrid
Gazzetta dello Sport has provided an update on the young forward’s situation. The Italian outlet relays information from Spain and Brazil and adds further context, revealing that AS Roma are actively exploring a deal for Endrick.
The outlet corroborates that Mourinho is unconvinced by the player as he wants a more physical No.9 profile, which has now arrived in the shape of surprise signing Carlos Espi, who looks an incredibly shrewd pick-up by Real Madrid.
Endrick’s margin for error is now pretty much non-existent, and the Spanish giants could yet decide to part ways with him this summer, either on loan or permanently. A final decision has not yet been made, but suitors, chief among them Roma, are attentive to the situation.
The Serie A outfit’s sporting director was recently in Spain to sound out the feasibility of a potential move for Endrick. Roma would prefer a permanent signing, but any deal would likely have to follow Real Madrid’s tried-and-tested Nico Paz model.
Los Blancos could agree to sell Endrick but on the condition that they retain a major sell-on percentage and a reasonable buy-back clause. This is how they have handled the departures of most of their highly-rated talents in recent years.
Roma – or any suitor – would likely have to agree to this formula in order to get an affordable deal. Endrick is still under contract until 2030, so Real Madrid are under no pressure to offer discounts.
Why Man Utd need to pay attention
The news of Endrick’s potential availability should not only be music to the ears of everyone at Roma. It should also put Man Utd on alert, at least according to analytics firm SciSports.
Using SciSports’ Career Advice tool, which calculates a Club Fit rating based on several factors such as playing time prospects, development opportunities and stylistic fit, we can see that the Red Devils would be one of Endrick’s best transfer options.
Man Utd have a very solid rating of 77, the same as Atletico Madrid and Fulham and only slightly worse than Inter, who are Endrick’s best option with a score of 79. Although the Old Trafford club spent big on Benjamin Sesko last year, they could yet be forced to explore the striker market.
Joshua Zirkzee is facing an uncertain future and probably should leave the club for the good of his career after wasting two seasons in England. Endrick could be an ideal replacement.
Of course, Man Utd would likely also have to agree to a Nico Paz-style deal, but Como have shown that this is not necessarily a bad thing. Because of the player’s desire to stay, they have managed to sign him for good this summer, albeit at a hefty cost of €60m.
Should Endrick prove to be a hit at Man Utd, they could look to repeat Como’s Nico Paz trick.
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