Real Madrid-bound Endrick has drawn natural comparisons to current superstar Vinicius Junior, but the agent of both players believes the younger Brazilian has more potential.
The 16-year-old has risen to stratospheric prominence in Sao Paulo while playing for Palmeiras, prompting Florentino Perez to make him his latest Galactico in December 2022 — though he won’t be able to officially join Real Madrid until 2024 when he turns 18.
A precocious goal-getter who has a poacher’s instinct inside the box and a physical robustness that belies his still tender years, Endrick has been causing quite the furore at the Palestra Italia Arena after he starred in Sao Paulo’s famous Copinha, where he was named as the ‘Player of the Tournament’.
The youth competition is held in high esteem in the footballing capital of Brazil and has staged some of the finest players the city has had to offer over the years, many of whom have gone on to flourish this side of the Atlantic. Endrick is the latest in a long line of burgeoning starlets to shine at the tournament and attract the attention of Europe.
To date, the 16-year-old has now made 19 appearances for the Palmeiras first team after becoming the club’s youngest ever player when he made his debut in October 2022. Vinicius Jr had a similar trajectory during his formative years at Flamengo, and has since gone on to become a global sensation.
Real paid around £40m for Vinicius in 2017 (officially signing him in 2018) after his performances for the Rio de Janeiro club, and Perez has broke the bank once again to fend off competition for Brazil’s latest jewel, spending more than £60m for Palmeiras’ 16-year-old.
According to the agent of Endrick, Frederico Pena, it is money well spent, as he believes the potential of the teenager is more than his other client, Vinicius Jr.
“The main difference between them is that Vini has always been the best in his class, year after year, whereas Endrick has always been ahead of his class, playing with much older players, due to his physical maturity,” Pena told FourFourTwo.
Ever since Barcelona beat Real Madrid to the signing of Neymar in 2013, Perez has been ruthless in his pursuit of trying to find Brazil’s next generational superstar, an obsession that has culminated in the transfer of four teenagers from South America, including Endrick.
It started with Vinicius from Flamengo, as touched upon. Then it was Rodrygo from Santos in 2019, and Reinier a year later. In 2024, we’ll see if Endrick can follow in the footsteps of Vinicius and catapult the club to even greater heights.
Florentino Perez missed out on a young Neymar and said NEVER AGAIN!!??
He signed Two Young Brazilian Prospects; Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo.
Where Vinicius is a Beast in La Liga, and Rodrygo is a Beast in the Champions League.
Both has been amazing this season#ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/pPnigi8WuY— Joshua Unuado (@JUnuado) May 4, 2022
Time will tell if Endrick is truly worth the €72M price tag as a 16 year old. My money is on Florentino Perez striking gold in Brazil again, as he did with Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. Missing out on Neymar to Barcelona changed the history of Real Madrid ???? https://t.co/IzU8e3Rwch
— Stoppage Time FC (@Stoppagetime_fc) December 9, 2022
Florentino Perez's determination to make sure "the next Neymar" plays for Real Madrid is absolutely hysterical. https://t.co/DMh9cLdmXD
— Muhammad Butt (@muhammadbutt) January 20, 2020