Real Madrid News
AC Milan ready to re-ignite pursuit for struggling Real Madrid youngster in January – report
Real Madrid’s abundance of riches in attack always meant someone was not going to get enough game time under Jose Mourinho.
A couple of months into the new season, that someone appears to be Endrick. The Brazilian has found minutes extremely hard to come by.
His lack of opportunities under Mourinho could reopen the door to a January departure, with AC Milan preparing another attempt to sign the Real Madrid striker on loan.
According to Diario SPORT, citing Portuguese outlet A Bola, Milan coach Ruben Amorim is one of the main advocates of a potential move.
Endrick has played just four official minutes for Madrid this season, although a muscle injury has also limited his availability.
Milan ready to try again
Milan already explored a move for Endrick during the summer and received encouragement from the Brazilian himself.
The transfer did not progress because Mourinho was unwilling to lose the striker at that stage. Several months later, however, the situation looks considerably different.
Endrick has struggled to enter Mourinho’s rotation, leaving him with another important decision over his development.
The proposed solution would be a six-month loan without a purchase option, meaning Madrid would retain complete control over his future.
It would essentially repeat the formula used last season, when Endrick joined Lyon in January. That spell gave him the regular football he needed.
Endrick, in turn, repaid the French club’s faith in him as he finished with eight goals and eight assists across 21 appearances.
Competition for Endrick
Milan are not alone.
Roma have also contacted the player’s representatives, while Aston Villa attempted to sign him during the summer.
His situation therefore appears to be quite open, with several other European clubs interested in signing him.
For Endrick, however, the coming weeks represent another opportunity to change Mourinho’s mind. The Brazilian is only 20, and there is no doubting his potential.
Four minutes is nowhere near enough football for a player at a stage when regular competitive experience is essential.
A loan could make sense for Madrid and Endrick
Madrid should look to give Endrick meaningful game time while also keeping control over his future.
A loan move to AC Milan or any other top European club would allow Los Blancos to keep hold of Endrick in the long run.
Endrick desperately needs minutes to enjoy continuity, and it remains to be seen how Mourinho and the club handle his future.
Bernardo Silva was one of Real Madrid’s headline signings last summer. The Portuguese midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City and appeared destined to become the creative successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park.
Indeed, with the club having not signed a new central midfielder, many within Real Madrid saw the veteran star as a solution to the issue.
Manager Jose Mourinho made him a starter from the very beginning in pre-season, but not in his usual role on the right. Instead, he deployed his compatriot as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield double pivot.
A change in circumstances
Silva failed to have the expected influence when operating in a deeper role in midfield in the chances he got.
Combined with the emergence of Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return to fitness, the Portuguese international has now lost his place in the starting line-up and dropped to the bench.
Bernardo’s situation became particularly striking against Villarreal this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, when he did not play a single minute.
Limited opportunities under Mourinho
Bernardo has played six matches for Real Madrid, starting three and coming on as a substitute in another three.
He did not feature against Villarreal or Elche, while his only appearance in the last three matches was a little over 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid. He was not used regularly by the Portugal national team during the international break either.
Across Real Madrid’s eight La Liga fixtures, Silva has accumulated just 282 minutes of playing time.
The Champions League now presents another opportunity for the former Manchester City captain, who has yet to make his European debut for Real Madrid this season.
He missed the match against Inter Milan because he was still serving a suspension carried over from his time at the Etihad Stadium last season.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will give him an opportunity against AS Roma in the coming week.
For now, the midfielder’s reduced playing time suggests that the Portuguese coach has lost some of his faith in a player who arrived with high expectations after leaving Manchester City.
