Brazil teenager Endrick has been unveiled as Actual Madrid‘s newest switch on the Bernabéu, days after he signed his contract with the Champions League holders.
Madrid agreed a deal to signal ahead Endrick from Palmeiras in December 2022, however the prospect couldn’t formally be a part of the membership till his 18th birthday on July 21, 2024.
The 18-year-old was visibly emotional on the public presentation on the stadium, telling followers he has long-dreamed of taking part in for the reigning LaLiga champions as his mother and father had been additionally in tears in attendance.
“That is loopy,” Endrick stated. “I’m so joyful, since I used to be a child I’ve at all times been a Madrid fan and now I’m going to play for Madrid.
“I’m right here, I’m going to play, I’m so joyful, my household are as properly. I haven’t got phrases to explain what I’m feeling. I at all times needed to be right here. I needed to play for Madrid. It was a dream. In the present day it’s a actuality.
“I’m grateful to everybody. Now we’re going to sing a chant collectively, I’m certain you’ll all sing with me: Three, two, one… ‘Hala Madrid.’
“I will not lie, I didn’t count on all this, so many individuals.”
Madrid president Florentino Perez welcomed his crew’s newest younger expertise.
“This second was what you dreamed of as a toddler,” he stated. “That conviction has led you to fulfil a lifetime dream. That dream you had if you had been solely 9 years outdated with the Actual Madrid Basis.
“Your play and objectives already deliver followers to their toes and Madrid are delighted to have you ever as a part of the household.”
Endrick featured for Brazil at this summer time’s Copa América, beginning and taking part in 90 minutes of their penalty shootout defeat to Uruguay within the competitors’s quarterfinals.
Sources instructed ESPN that the participant didn’t count on to hitch the Actual Madrid squad as they set off on their pre-season tour of america later this month, the place they’ll play three video games towards AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea.
Madrid’s first aggressive fixture of 2024-25 is the UEFA Tremendous Cup, the place the Champions League winners will play Europa League winners Atalanta in Warsaw, on Aug. 14.
They tackle Mallorca of their opening sport of the brand new LaLiga season on Aug 18.
Endrick will compete for a spot within the Actual Madrid assault alongside Brazil teammates Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, and one other new arrival, Kylian Mbappé.
He’s the most recent teenage Brazilian expertise to be recognized by Madrid and chief scout Juni Calafat after they agreed a deal for then 16-year-old Vinícius in 2017 and Rodrygo, then 17, a 12 months later.
Endrick has been a lot hyped since changing into the youngest participant to characteristic for Palmeiras, making his first crew debut aged 16 years, two months and 16 days in October 2022.
He went on to change into the second-youngest aim scorer within the historical past of Brazil’s Série A, and helped Palmeiras win the 2022 Brasileiro Série A title.
In December 2022, Madrid confirmed that that they had agreed a cope with Endrick, beating competitors from quite a lot of high European golf equipment together with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Palmeiras known as it the largest switch in Brazilian soccer historical past, with sources telling ESPN the deal was value a complete of €72 million ($79m), together with variables and taxes.
Endrick made his Brazil nationwide crew debut in November 2023, approaching as an alternative in a 2-1 World Cup qualifying defeat to Colombia.
He scored in Brazil’s 1-0 pleasant win over England at Wembley on March 23 and once more in a 3-3 draw with Spain on March 26, incomes a call-up to their squad for the Copa América.
There, he was restricted to only one begin and three substitute appearances, in a disappointing event for the five-time World Cup winners.
Info from ESPN’s Sam Marsden contributed to this report.
