Endrick exclusive: "Florentino understood I wanted to play and score goals"
The Brazilian wonderkid opens up about his Lyon loan move, scoring on debut, and his Madrid future in a candid interview that shows his hunger for success.
Real Madrid’s Brazilian starlet speaks from his new Lyon home after a dream debut goal that’s got everyone talking - including a flood of congratulatory messages from his Madrid teammates.
Hitting the ground running
It’s been barely three days since Endrick’s debut goal for Lyon secured their passage to the next round of the French Cup with a 2-1 victory over Lille. The 17-year-old Brazilian has wasted absolutely no time making an impact at his loan club.
“I think I still haven’t finished responding to all the messages I received after the match,” Endrick revealed with a laugh. “There were so many. After the game, I couldn’t even count them.”
This instant impact is precisely what the youngster was hoping for when the loan move was arranged - a chance to play regularly and continue his development before returning to the Bernabéu.
The Florentino factor
When asked about Madrid president Florentino Pérez’s reaction to his loan move, Endrick’s response revealed the understanding relationship between them:
“The president always helped everyone with everything, and I was no exception. He understood my desire to play consecutive matches… and was generous as always.”
This statement speaks volumes about the club’s long-term vision for the Brazilian talent. Rather than keeping him on the bench, Madrid have prioritised his development through regular playing time.
Lyon ambitions
Endrick is crystal clear about his objectives in France - it’s not about personal glory:
“I hope to win every match, that’s what’s important. I’ll help by scoring goals, but we can win with goals from other teammates too. I came here to win a title with Lyon. I didn’t come to count goals.”
This team-first mentality will serve him well at a club like Lyon that’s desperate to return to former glories. The French side currently sit 7th in Ligue 1 and are competing in the Europa League.
Learning from the best
Despite injury limiting his pre-season exposure at Madrid, Endrick absorbed valuable lessons from Xabi Alonso during their brief time together. Now under Paulo Fonseca at Lyon, he continues to be a sponge for knowledge:
“If you have an open mind, you learn every day from great coaches, and that’s what I’m looking for.”
The physical challenge
When questioned about the potentially more physical nature of Ligue 1 compared to La Liga, Endrick dismissed any concerns:
“I’ve always played with older players, since I was little, and I’ve always had to push myself physically. I honestly don’t see it as a problem.”
The youngster’s confidence isn’t misplaced - his stocky build and low centre of gravity have already made him a handful for defenders despite his youth.
For now, Madrid fans will have to follow their loanee’s progress from afar, but if his debut is anything to go by, they’ll be counting down the days until he returns to the Spanish capital.