Liverpool showed an interest in Endrick Felipe de Sousa before his £30 million move to Real Madrid with Luis Suarez believing the Premier League giants have missed out on an ‘incredible’ talent.
Capped by Brazil, a two-time league champion with Palmeiras, and having sealed a big-money move to the Spanish giants, Endrick has achieved more in his career already than most players do in twenty years at the top level.
Arguably Brazil’s next Selecao superstar, Endrick fired Palmeiras to a second successive title with a goal in the 1-1 final day draw against Cruzeiro. The teenager’s 14th strike in 2023 alone.
And, after Real Madrid fought off competition from the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea and Liverpool, Luis Suarez believes that Los Blancos’ gain is everybody else’s loss (Sky Sports).
Liverpool wanted Palmeiras wonderkid Endrick
“He’s a star,” Suarez, the Liverpool and Barcelona icon, says during ESPN’s Bola de Prata Awards.
“He’s still very young, he’s taking his first steps. (But) I think what he’s achieved this year is incredible. Brazil, Real Madrid and football have a star for many years to come.
“Obviously, I wanted Endrick at Barcelona. But he is the one who has to decide and enjoy football, and football will enjoy him.”
Suarez, who came up against Endrick at Gremio, will see a striker who only celebrated his 17th birthday in July follow in the footsteps of Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo Goes, two more baby-faced Brazilians who moved to Madrid for huge fees in their teenage years.
And if Endrick can emulate the impact those two made at the Santiago Bernabeu, that initial £30 million investment will be money very well spent.
Rodrygo, who was also a target for Liverpool while back in Brazil, has a staggering 11 goals or assists in his last five games under Carlo Ancelotti.
Endrick joins Rodrygo and Vinicius at Real Madrid
“When Rodrygo went to sign his first professional contract with Santos, aged 16, a Liverpool director called me saying that (Jurgen) Klopp already knew the player, had seen the videos, and had already come to see Rodrygo personally,” Nick Accuri, the winger’s agent, told Jorge Nicola in April 2020.
“Klopp liked him. They contacted me. The Liverpool director (presuably Michael Edwards) wanted him to be his first signing.
“I went to England and sat in London. Liverpool have an office in London. I brought the proposal to Modesto, then president of Santos. Modesto didn’t accept.
“It turned out that Santos didn’t want to sell Rodrygo. But it was Rodrygo’s first official offer, he was 16 and it was Liverpool.”
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