Endrick's ordeal at Real Madrid is no longer a secret. Since May 18, the young Brazilian has not played a single second of official play. Xabi Alonso does not count on him. Kylian Mbappé and Gonzalo Garcia pass him in front. At 19, recruited for nearly 50 million euros, he vegetated on the Madrid bench with no prospect of change. The frustration finally exploded in Getafe in mid-October: an angry kick in a water bottle after realizing that he would not enter. The verdict came shortly after: Endrick will leave on loan in January. And OM is following the matter closely.
Marseille ticks almost all the boxes
But the Brazilian will not go anywhere. ESPN Brasil revealed the four criteria imposed by the player and his entourage. First: a club playing in a European Top 5 or one of the three Portuguese giants (Benfica, Porto, Sporting). Second: participation in a European competition, ideally the Champions League. Third: an attacking style of play. Fourth: a club aiming for the national title. No loan in Spain either, to avoid facing Real. Requirements that fit perfectly with the Marseille profile.
OM are leader of Ligue 1. Roberto De Zerbi offers attractive, forward-looking football. The club has title ambitions. On paper, everything matches. Except for one detail: European qualification. Marseille has only taken three points in three days of the Champions League (two defeats against Real and Sporting, a victory against Ajax). To attract Endrick, OM must absolutely validate their place in the play-offs this winter. Without this guarantee, the file will be dead in the bud. And nothing is certain for the moment.
High demands for a ghost player
One might wonder if Endrick doesn't overestimate himself a little. Certainly, the talent is there. But for a player who only played 847 minutes last season, who has not played for six months and who has seven goals in 37 games for Real, the conditions imposed seem excessive. Pablo Longoria has good relations with Madrid, it is an asset. The defection of Amine Gouiri (injured shoulder) and the planned absence of Aubameyang at the CAN create an offensive void. But is that enough to bet on a player completely lacking pace?
Florentino PĂ©rez wants a dry loan, without a purchase option. Real still believes in Endrick's potential and does not want to lose him permanently. OM could pull off a nice media stunt, comparable to the recruitment of Adrien Rabiot last summer. But before fantasizing, Marseille must first save its European campaign. Three points in three games is too little. If OM does not qualify for the play-offs, Endrick will look elsewhere. And other clubs, better placed on the continental scene, are waiting their turn.
