Real Madrid News
Real Madrid prodigy faces make-or-break moment with Copa del Rey spotlight
For Real Madrid, the ongoing period is not only about chasing silverware but also about assessing the future of one of their brightest young talents, Endrick.
The Brazilian forward has experienced a season of limited opportunities, but the Copa del Rey could be his platform to prove himself.
Endrick’s playing time in La Liga has been minimal, with the youngster featuring in only 4% of the available minutes.
His total of 105 minutes in the league has been spread across 16 appearances—hardly enough for him to leave a lasting impact. However, his Copa del Rey journey tells a different story.
Across just four matches, Endrick has played 285 minutes, more than double his La Liga tally, and he has started in three of those games.
Even in the Champions League, he has managed more playing time than in La Liga, underlining the difficulty he faces in breaking into Ancelotti’s preferred line-up for domestic matches.
Copa del Rey: Endrick’s stage to shine
The Copa del Rey has offered Endrick a genuine chance. Impressively, he stands as Real Madrid’s top scorer in the competition, netting four goals in four matches.
That’s three more than Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.. His most recent achievement was scoring the only goal in the first leg of the semi-finals against Real Sociedad.
Now, with the second leg fast approaching, all eyes will be on Endrick to see if he can deliver once again.
Despite his promising performances in the Cup, Endrick remains far from a guaranteed starter. In fact, he is currently the third player in the first team with the fewest minutes played this season, only ahead of Jesus Vallejo and David Alaba.
Defining moment for Endrick
The upcoming clash against Real Sociedad could be a defining moment for Endrick. If Carlo Ancelotti decides to utilise him once more in the Copa del Rey, it may signal a growing trust in his capabilities.
However, if his minutes are limited or non-existent, it could indicate that Ancelotti only resorted to him due to the absence of Mbappe rather than genuine faith in his talent.
Should Endrick continue to struggle for opportunities beyond the Copa del Rey, he may find himself at a crossroads.
Considering a loan move to gain valuable playing time elsewhere could become a realistic option if he remains on the fringes of Ancelotti’s plans.
Real Madrid News
Italian journalist claims Mourinho made a late attempt to sign veteran midfielder for Real Madrid
Italian journalist Andrea Losapio has claimed on TuttoMercato (h/t Defensa Central) that Real Madrid attempted to sign Marcelo Brozovic as a free agent after the Croatian midfielder’s contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr expired.
The 33-year-old attracted the interest of Jose Mourinho, who is said to have personally called the former Inter Milan star in an attempt to convince him to move to Spain.
However, the two parties were unable to reach an agreement.
Brozovic remains without a club and could now return to Italian football. According to the journalist, the midfielder has already rejected approaches from Trabzonspor and Monaco, while Fiorentina are continuing negotiations over a possible move.
“The midfielder also received a call from Jose Mourinho, who was trying to find a solution for him to play in Spain. However, no agreement was reached,” Losapio said.
Experienced addition
If signed, Brozovic would have provided Mourinho with another option in midfield, particularly when it came to rotating the squad and controlling games from deeper positions.
It must be noted that Real Madrid had been searching for a midfielder of a similar profile all summer and had even come close to signing Rodri, who later chose to join FC Barcelona.
Brozovic would have offered experience, balance and control from the holding midfield position at Real Madrid.
At 33, the Croatian has enjoyed an outstanding career at the highest level, particularly during his time at Inter Milan, where he became an important figure over several seasons.
Despite his quality and experience, however, Real Madrid’s interest did not result in a deal.
Fiorentina pushing for a deal
Brozovic is still considering his next destination after leaving Al Nassr and has yet to make a definitive decision.
Fiorentina currently appear to be one of the strongest contenders for Brozovic’s signature. The Serie A club are continuing talks with the midfielder and hope to persuade him to return to Italy, although an agreement has yet to be reached.
As for Real Madrid, they decided against another midfield signing and are relying on Bernardo Silva as an option for the deep-lying playmaker role.
