Newcastle United reportedly wanted Endrick de Sousa before his move to Real Madrid with the Premier League club’s star midfielder Bruno Guimaraes now hailing an ‘enormous talent’.
As Real Madrid shredded Valencia over the weekend, cruising to a 5-1 win, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo Goes cut loose, scoring twice apiece.
And if Endrick’s staggering solo goal during Palmeiras’ recent victory over Botafogo is anything to go by, Madrid’s Samba frontline could soon be welcoming a third member.
Los Blancos triggered the £52 million release clause in Endrick’s contract only a couple of months after this potentially generation-defining talent celebrated his 16th birthday, fighting off competition from across the continent.
According to Brazilian reporter Jorge Nicola, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle were all hoping to win the race for Endrick’s signature back a year ago, only to be beaten to the punch by a Real Madrid side who have enjoyed plenty of success when investing heavily in the next generation of Selecao superstars.
Real Madrid win Endrick race
“I think (Endrick ) is an enormous talent,” Bruno Guimaraes, Endrick’s Newcastle team-mate in another universe somewhere, tells Mundo Deportivo. “We are seeing (him) being born.
“He’s a great player. He is a little shy, but that is normal. He knows some players and we are trying to get him to talk to us more.”
After scoring 12 goals for Palmeiras’ first-team this season, 17-year-old Endrick could make his senior Brazil debut in the coming days, having become the youngest ever player to receive a call-up since the iconic Ronaldo Nazario in 1994.
“Here (in the national team) he will feel comfortable,” Guimaraes adds. “Everyone will welcome him.”
Striker could have joined Guimaraes at Newcastle
Endrick’s fellow wonderkid Vitor Roque could soon be joining him on the plane to Spain. Barcelona director Deco insists that the La Liga champions still hope to bring in the Athletico Paranaense starlet in the January window.
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