Real Madrid News
Real Madrid forward not ruling out January loan to Serie A club amid lack of minutes
New season, same issues for Endrick at Real Madrid as he has found it difficult to break into the team and play regularly.
Indeed, the four minutes as a substitute against Elche in La Liga is all the 20-year-old striker has played for Real Madrid in the first eight matches of the season.
An untimely pre-season injury ruled him out of the first four games, but he has been called up by Jose Mourinho for the following four games and has barely featured.
Competition for places in attack is fierce, with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., Yan Diomande, Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz and new signing Carlos Espi all ahead of him.
January loan exit not ruled out
As such, AS reports that Endrick has the option of leaving on loan in January, which he will consider, if things do not improve for him at Real Madrid.
The Brazilian had several offers to leave on loan in the summer. The one that appealed to him most was AS Roma, who are in the Champions League and currently top of Serie A.
In fact, when the agreement for a loan move was already in place, a conversation with Mourinho changed everything. The Portuguese coach asked the striker to stay and told him that he counted on him.
Endrick, whose long-term ambition has always been to succeed at Real Madrid, accepted the challenge.
Even so, the player intends to see how the first half of the season develops before reassessing his situation in the January transfer window.
As such, a January exit, potentially through another loan like the one he had at Lyon, remains possible, and Roma are still interested.
Important decision ahead for Endrick
Other major European clubs are also monitoring his situation and approaches continue to arrive.
Endrick has no intention of giving up. He knows his opportunity could come at any point and wants to be ready, particularly if an injury affects one of the players ahead of him.
Mbappe’s recent scare with France was a reminder of how quickly circumstances can change, although the superstar ultimately avoided a serious injury.
At the same time, the 20-year-old striker knows that he cannot afford to stall his development.
An investment Real Madrid want to protect
Real Madrid, on their part, support Mourinho’s decision to keep backing Endrick. The club are particularly attentive to the Brazilian’s situation after investing €35 million up front, with a further €25 million potentially due in add-ons.
Once transfer fees, commissions, salary, bonuses and taxes are taken into account, the club’s total investment is already reported to have exceeded €80 million. As such, the idea of Mourinho giving him opportunities is welcomed internally.
At the same time, the club know that Endrick is a significant investment whose development needs to be managed carefully. For that to continue, he needs regular playing time.
So, as things stand, no option is ruled out as far as Endrick’s future is concerned.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid academy strategy pays off with €210m windfall and 34 Spain internationals – report
Real Madrid’s academy has been a huge success story in recent seasons, even if not many players have found a place in the first team.
Los Blancos have used Castilla as one of the main sources of revenue to fund their first team, and the value of the academy has continued to increase.
According to AS, Madrid generated €210 million from academy-related player operations during the summer.
Meanwhile, 34 players developed at the club have represented Spain across the different men’s national-team age groups during the current international period.
Valdebebas producing players at every level
That international presence stretches from the senior Spain squad, featuring academy products Ivan Fresneda, Victor Munoz and Fran Garcia, all the way down to the Under-16s.
The results at academy level have also been impressive, with Madrid securing the league, Champions Cup, Youth League and Intercontinental Cup.
Behind those results is a structure involving around 300 players, 50 coaches and 40 scouts, with academy director Manuel Fernandez overseeing the project.
The objective is not simply to build youth teams capable of winning trophies. Madrid want players with genuine elite potential.
Some, such as Raul Asencio and Thiago Pitarch, can eventually help the first team. Others can develop into valuable assets sought by clubs across Europe’s top leagues.
€210 million demonstrates the financial value
The financial pathway has become increasingly important.
Madrid’s €210 million return was driven by several major operations, including €60 million from Como for Nico Paz and €40 million from Fulham for Gonzalo Garcia.
Victor Munoz, Mario Gila, Alvaro Rodriguez, Alex Jimenez, Palacios and Jacobo were among the other academy products whose moves exceeded €10 million.
Crucially, most of that €210 million came from footballers who never held a permanent first-team squad place.
La Fabrica does not need every player to become a starter
The strongest argument for Madrid’s model is that an academy cannot realistically produce a first-team starter every season when the senior squad is already at such a high level.
Judging La Fabrica only by how many youngsters establish themselves at the Bernabeu therefore misses much of its value.
Madrid are creating several successful outcomes instead: first-team players, internationals and valuable footballers who generate significant transfer income.
Thirty-four Spain representatives and €210 million in one summer tell you that the proof is in the pudding.
Madrid will hope their academy can continue to be as productive in the coming years, and it remains to be seen how things play out.
