Endrick to seek January loan from Real Madrid with five European suitors
Real Madrid’s Brazilian winger Endrick has decided to leave the club on loan in the January transfer window, Diario AS reports, and several European teams have expressed interest in a temporary deal.
The 20-year-old has seen his minutes limited this season, playing just 85 minutes in LaLiga and a further 56 minutes in the UEFA Champions League, where he has scored one goal and provided one assist. Speaking in a press conference while on international duty with Brazil, Endrick said: "I don’t know what’s going to happen in January. I just want to play, to be happy," he said. "I’m very young, I’m 20 years old. I just want to be happy, to play, to score goals and give assists, to help my teammates."
AC Milan are among the clubs reportedly tracking Endrick; the Italian side have identified him as an option as head coach Ruben Amorim considers a two-man attack featuring Goncalo Ramos, with Endrick viewed as a temporary candidate for that role.
Manchester United have also been linked to the Brazilian amid a reported managerial change, with Mauricio Pochettino tipped to take charge, and the club are said to be seeking attacking reinforcements; Endrick has been mentioned as an option to supplement players such as Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
Arsenal have emerged as an unexpected contender, with the club’s sporting director Andrea Berta described as having a close relationship with Endrick’s agency; the report adds that Arsenal had interest in Vinicius in the summer, are monitoring wide options amid Bukayo Saka’s injury issues, view Endrick’s versatility positively and have not submitted a formal bid.
Sporting CP are reported to be frontrunners to secure a loan, with Paulo Fonseca the manager and a prior connection to Endrick from his six-month loan at Lyon, where he scored eight goals and supplied eight assists in 21 matches. Endrick reflected on that spell, saying: "What happened to me in Lyon, for example, was one of the best things that ever happened to me, the happiest moment, without a doubt."
AS Roma are described by Corriere dello Sport as favourites to land Endrick in January, with Gian Piero Gasperini the manager, the club expected to give him a leading role suited to Gasperini’s attacking, high-intensity style, and Roma reportedly in talks with the player’s representatives about a loan that could include an option to buy and a Real Madrid buy-back clause.
Endrick has started working on finding a new club that can guarantee him playing time, the report says, and he is reportedly considering a January loan move to secure regular minutes after limited opportunities at Real Madrid.