September 11: Real Madrid’s Toughest Decision This Summer! Multiple Offers Rejected, Mourinho Stands Behind Endrick

Here is a statistic first.

Endrick played only 99 total minutes for Real Madrid’s first team last season: 11 in La Liga, 11 in the Champions League, and 77 in the Copa del Rey.

A youngster who cost Real Madrid nearly €72 million has left only a very thin mark at the club.

This summer, Roma made an offer, Milan made an offer, and Villa made an offer. Loan deals with purchase options and buy-back clauses piled up.

Mourinho rejected them all.

According to Real Madrid reporter Mario Cortegana, Mourinho was the key figure behind Endrick staying. In public and private conversations, he repeatedly told the 20-year-old:

“I really appreciate this player. Many clubs previously asked about loan or purchase deals for him. I do not want to sell him.”

“

Many people did not understand. If Endrick cannot even make the squad list, is staying and waiting really better for his development than going elsewhere to start regularly?

Mourinho’s plan is much deeper than outsiders imagine.

1. How difficult is Endrick’s situation: he cannot even make the squad

First, let’s sort out the timeline.

This summer, Endrick returned after a six-month loan spell at Lyon. In Ligue 1, he scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 21 matches, directly contributing to a goal every 94 minutes on average, and broke Benzema’s record as Lyon’s youngest hat-trick scorer.

Everyone expected him to return to Real Madrid and make a big impact.

Instead, before the La Liga opener, he suffered a hamstring injury. The problem lasted from early August into September, and Real Madrid’s medical staff cautiously did not fully clear him for contact training.

He missed all of La Liga’s first four rounds. His last official appearance dates back to a preseason friendly in Budapest.

Social media users brought up footage of him taking zero shots in 57 minutes of a friendly and immediately labeled him a “flop.”

A 20-year-old who cost Real Madrid nearly €72 million has failed to secure regular appearances after two years. Wouldn’t Real Madrid fans have doubts?

Yet Mourinho chose this moment to keep him in the squad.

2. Mourinho’s real plan: two completely different players

Mourinho keeping Endrick was not about sentiment.

Look at Real Madrid’s current attacking options.

Mbappe scored 25 goals in 31 La Liga games and 15 goals in 11 Champions League matches last season, winning three Golden Boot awards. Nobody can challenge his position as the main striker.

Carlos Espi, a 1.94-meter target striker signed from Levante with a contract until 2031, represents the traditional No.9 Mourinho wants: someone who can battle center-backs and provide a focal point.

Endrick, meanwhile, is 1.73 meters tall, direct in style, aggressive in dribbling, fast, and willing to attack forward.

Simply put, they are completely different types of players.

Espi is the hammer in positional attacks; Endrick is the dagger in counterattacks.

Mourinho has said Endrick can play at

center forward and right wing

to earn playing time.

When he comes on, Real Madrid’s attacking style and counterattack rhythm do not need to change. That is a unique tactical option. Looking across Real Madrid’s bench, there is no second player who can play this way.

Roma and Milan may want him, but they can offer a starting role, not the development environment of being coached by Mourinho.

Marca reported that Mourinho believes Endrick will play an important role next season.

This is not something said casually. Before Mourinho returned to Real Madrid, the club had gone trophyless for two consecutive seasons, and Florentino Perez almost handed him transfer decision-making power.

Every player he keeps is a carefully considered decision.

3. What staying means for Endrick: a major gamble

Of course, staying at Real Madrid will be a tough battle for Endrick.

Real Madrid’s attacking competition is among the fiercest in Europe. He will likely begin as a substitute and compete directly with Espi for minutes.

The dressing room is not completely united either. Reports said people around Endrick were dissatisfied with his current situation.

A 20-year-old Brazil international who has played at the World Cup returning and failing to make the La Liga squad would be difficult for anyone to accept.

But the good news is,

he has recovered from injury.

In Real Madrid’s Champions League opener against Inter, Endrick was included in Mourinho’s match squad. Mourinho said before the match: “Tomorrow he may be ready to play five minutes, at most ten minutes… He is not yet recovered enough to play longer, but we still have a place on the bench.”

Take it step by step. Stay healthy, understand the tactical demands, and secure a rotation role.

Mourinho himself also came through a period as a substitute. When he was Robson’s interpreter at Barcelona, who could have imagined he would later win two Champions Leagues? His patience with young players is completely different from his comments at press conferences.

4. Real Madrid’s trump card: holding on and waiting for the right moment

Many people do not understand why Real Madrid refuses to let him leave.

Endrick’s Transfermarkt value has risen from €25 million before his loan to €35 million, while his contract runs until 2030. Real Madrid values him between €40 million and €45 million.

His loan spell at Lyon proved his market value. He is no longer just a talented youngster attracting buyers because of his reputation; his goals, assists, and Brazil international status have increased his transfer-market value significantly compared with two years ago.

Real Madrid keeping him now is essentially about waiting for the right moment—

waiting for his complete recovery and for a playing or transfer plan that fully matches his current value.

If they let him leave now, whether on loan or permanently, Real Madrid would struggle to receive a satisfactory return.

According to Milan reporters, AC Milan has made Endrick a key target for strengthening their attack before the winter window and began planning before the summer window ended.

But Mourinho’s stance is clear:

Unless there is a major change, he will not be allowed to leave.

5. A final word

Real Madrid has preserved one of its most valuable young assets this summer. Mourinho has given Endrick full trust with his position, and now the Brazilian youngster must prove with his performances whether Mourinho’s judgment was correct.

When he emerged at Palmeiras, everyone called him the “next Ronaldo.” After fulfilling his potential on loan at Lyon, everyone thought he would establish himself immediately at Real Madrid.

Instead, a muscle injury that was not considered especially serious pushed him onto the bench.

But the most fascinating part of football has never been paper strength; it is underestimated players proving everyone wrong through match after match.

How much playing time can Endrick get this season? Can he find his place between Mbappe and Espi?

Do you think Mourinho made the right decision? Should Endrick stay or go elsewhere to play regularly? Debate in the comments.