Real Madrid News
Real Madrid inform teenage prodigy he will have a prominent role in the team next season
Endrick will return to Real Madrid this summer after completing his half-season loan spell at Olympique Lyon.
The 19-year-old Brazilian striker had to leave the club during the January transfer window after being starved of opportunities in the first half of the season.
Since joining the Ligue 1 outfit, the youngster has done very well, recording seven goals and seven assists from 18 appearances. It even earned him a place back in the Brazil squad during the international break in March.
Endrick set for a key role next season
Now, according to AS, Endrick will take on a more prominent role in the squad after impressing at Lyon. Real Madrid have already informed him that there will be no further loan moves. There is full confidence in him.
The youngster, for his part, is delighted with the decision as he now feels stronger and more prepared to fulfil his ambition of succeeding at Real Madrid.
The Spanish capital club’s commitment to Endrick is definitive, with the intention that he gains the prominence he has not had until now.
After all, the youngster did not play regularly in his debut season under Carlo Ancelotti and then was largely sidelined by Xabi Alonso, who preferred Gonzalo Garcia as the backup striker.
His performances in France serve as strong credentials for Endrick, who will now secure the place he deserves in the squad.
His ability to play on the right wing, as he has done under Paulo Fonseca, also opens the door to a possible starting role alongside Kylian Mbappe and Vinícius Jr. in attack.
For that position, he will have to compete with Rodrygo, who is recovering from a serious knee injury, as well as Brahim Díaz and Franco Mastantuono.
In any case, Real Madrid also view Endrick as a reliable backup option for Mbappe. Beyond his versatility on the wing, he will be the primary centre-forward alternative to the French striker.
Real Madrid News
Rayo Vallecano manager names the one Real Madrid figure he would remove from the team
Rayo Vallecano face a daunting trip to the Santiago Bernabeu to take on a wounded Real Madrid this weekend.
Life after Inigo Perez has not been kind to the Vallecas-based club, who have already had to travel to Camp Nou and now face a trip to the home of their city giants.
Speaking ahead of the game (h/t Madrid Xtra), Rayo Vallecano manager Benat San Jose was asked which Real Madrid player he would like to remove from the team before this weekend’s game.
Surprisingly, his choice was not Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior or Thibaut Courtois.
“Mourinho”
Asked which Madrid player he would take out of the upcoming contest, Benat jokingly chose the man sitting on the opposition bench.
“Which Real Madrid player I’d remove from the match against them? Mourinho,” Benat said with a laugh.
The answer might have been delivered jokingly, but the Rayo coach immediately made clear just how highly he rates the Portuguese manager.
“He’s one of the best managers in history,” he added.
It is significant praise ahead of Saturday’s meeting at the Bernabeu.
Madrid’s squad contains enough individual quality to give any opposition coach several obvious answers, but Benat instead highlighted the influence Mourinho can have over the entire team.
That has become particularly relevant since the Portuguese coach returned to Madrid. His early work has focused on making a talented group function with greater collective discipline.
Courtois and Madrid’s attack also praised
Benat did not stop with the manager.
“They also have one of the best GKs in history and one of the best attackers in history,” he said.
Benat will definitely have seen how Thibaut Courtois played against Inter Milan in midweek and will hope that version does not turn up again this weekend.
Even when teams manage to create opportunities against Madrid, they still have to beat one of the defining goalkeepers of his generation.
At the opposite end, Madrid possess attacking quality capable of turning a match on its head.
The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham can all decide matches single-handedly.
Madrid have a point to prove
Madrid are coming off a disappointing loss to Real Betis in La Liga last weekend and will come into this game with a point to prove.
They will want to ensure that the loss to the Andalusian club was a one-off and that they return to winning ways against Rayo.
Their title rivals, Barça, have been flying high in the league, scoring goals and picking opponents apart for fun.
Madrid need to ensure that they do not hand too much early incentive to Barça, and it remains to be seen how Los Blancos fare against Rayo Vallecano.
