Real Madrid News
Endrick’s Real Madrid situation is becoming a serious problem for the young striker
Endrick’s situation at Real Madrid is becoming increasingly difficult to overlook, with the Brazilian yet to make a single appearance this season after returning from a successful loan spell at Lyon.
Notably, the 2026/27 campaign was expected to offer the young striker a greater role in Jose Mourinho’s squad.
Instead, the opening weeks have produced the opposite picture. Endrick is the only striker in the squad who has not played a minute, while Andriy Lunin and Thiago Pitarch are the only other players yet to make their debuts this season.
Mourinho has spoken positively about Endrick on several occasions, but words of encouragement have not translated into opportunities on the pitch.
More strikingly, Carlos Espi, the summer signing, has moved ahead of him in the pecking order after only a month, leaving Endrick facing a familiar question: whether another loan move could be the best route towards regular football.
Endrick’s lack of minutes raises questions
There is still plenty of time before the January transfer window opens, but Endrick’s lack of involvement will inevitably fuel speculation over his future.
As such, his previous loan spell at Lyon demonstrated the value of playing regularly, as rather than remaining on the fringes of a bigger squad, the Brazilian was able to gain rhythm and confidence through consistent minutes.
A similar solution could now appeal if his situation at Real Madrid does not change.
On that note, the objective would not necessarily be to sever his connection with the club, but to give him another opportunity to develop away from the pressure of competing for limited minutes.
Real Madrid’s expensive investment under scrutiny
For what it is worth, Endrick’s predicament also puts question marks on Real Madrid’s recruitment strategy.
The club invested heavily in Endrick and Franco Mastantuono, currently at Fiorentina on loan, with the two players costing more than €100 million combined.
Yet neither has so far delivered at the level expected from such significant investments.
That does not mean either player should be written off. Young attackers rarely develop along a perfectly predictable path, and Endrick has already shown during his time at Lyon that regular football can accelerate his progress.
Another loan could make sense for Endrick
For Endrick, the priority should be playing, as talent alone cannot compensate indefinitely for a lack of competitive minutes, particularly for a young striker who needs responsibility and continuity.
If Espi continues to receive opportunities while Endrick remains on the bench, a temporary move could become increasingly logical.
The important point for Real Madrid is that a loan should have a clear sporting purpose because Endrick does not need another destination merely for the sake of leaving.
For now, his future remains in Madrid. But unless his involvement changes, another loan may become the most practical solution for a player whose development cannot afford to stand still.
With the international break done and dusted, Real Madrid will be back in action this weekend in La Liga, where they will be looking to catch up to league leaders FC Barcelona.
Coming up for Jose Mourinho & co., who lost their last game before the international break, will be a home game against Villarreal on Saturday.
And, leading up to the game, the Spanish capital club have received welcome news on the injury front.
Mbappe back in group training
Indeed, as per MARCA, Kylian Mbappe will be available for Real Madrid’s match against Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.
Having been training individually so far this week, the France captain rejoined group training under Mourinho today, taking a concrete step forward towards making himself available for the game.
The forward looked relaxed and ready to work, putting his boots back on and joining the group as Real Madrid prepare for a demanding run of fixtures throughout October.
And, unless there is any unforeseen setback, everything suggests that Mbappe will be ready to start against the Yellow Submarine come Saturday.
Under scrutiny
The past few weeks have been nothing short of eventful for Mbappe, with his every action and movement under heavy scrutiny.
Playing for France, in Zinedine Zidane’s managerial debut, the 27-year-old superstar scored a goal before asking for a substitution due to a knee injury.
Having flown back to Madrid, he underwent tests, which confirmed the injury, although it was not as serious as was initially feared.
The forward then took week-long holiday with his partner that sparked some debate among supporters and attracted criticism from multiple quarters.
Mbappe returned to Madrid on Monday and participated in individual sessions at Valdebebas over the past couple of days. Now he has resumed normal training with his teammates.
There had been doubts over whether Mbappe would be able to face Villarreal after he picked up the injury on 25 September.
However, the recovery plan followed by the forward appears to have worked, and he is now expected to be in a fully fit condition for Saturday’s match.
