Endrick is not afraid of anything, and he has not been afraid of anything since the moment when as a child he left Brasilia to go and live in Sao Paulo, all in order to achieve that dream of being a footballer, which both his parents and he pursued.
While still a child, not only does he already form part of the football elite, but at the age of 16 he dared to sign a contract with Real Madrid and now he has already started the countdown to embark on the Madrid adventure.
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He is already a star and he has been able to prove it in recent weeks. First his call-up with Brazil, then with the conquest of the second Brazilian championship with Palmeiras, and the trip to Madrid to meet his teammates, enjoy the Bernabeu again, eat with Florentino Perez and feel the affection of the fans.
He transmits security and confidence in everything. “It all started when I was a kid”, says the 17-year-old who is destined to become a star when speaking exclusively to MARCA.
At just 17 years of age, you give the impression that you can do anything, is that true?
“Since I was very young I have had to prove that I am not afraid of anyone. It all started when I was very young. I just wanted to play football. I was very clear about that and for that you can’t be afraid of anyone or anything and that’s what I did since I was very young.”
Do you think you are ready for the challenge of Real Madrid?
“It will be a lot of responsibility, a great challenge. I am very excited to play with that shirt and to enjoy it with the fans. It’s a dream I’ve had since I was a kid, to be part of Real Madrid. I know that I still have challenges ahead of me in Palmeiras and I have to fulfill them or at least help my team to be at the top, but of course I’m already thinking about Real Madrid.”
Brazilian national team debut at only 17, what went through your head in that special moment?
Endrick in the standsEFE
“Unfortunately we lost both games but I had the chance to play, to see myself there with the national team shirt, something exceptional that anyone who wants to play football always dreams of. I was also lucky enough to be alongside Vinicius and Rodrygo…it was an excellent experience. I hope that in the future I can continue to share moments with them.”
What have Vinicius and Rodrygo said to you about what Real Madrid is like?
“I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with them. Remember that picture of the three of them on the bike training? They asked me if I was going on holiday, that I had to go. They have told me many things about the day-to-day, about the importance of everything that happens, about the greatness that it has in every way, but they tell me that you realise it when you are there.”
By the way, you seem to be very involved in Vinicius’s fight against racism?
“I’ve already suffered racism, but I don’t care, the more they do it, the more I’ll laugh in their face. I am in the fight with Vini, Rodrygo and all those who suffer racism. They can say whatever they want to make gestures at me…. I won’t mind and I think it will make them angrier. It’s the best way to fight racism.”
I suppose you are already looking forward to going to Madrid, to Valdebebas, to the Bernabeu but not to visit?
“I went once. My parents were there too and they told me a lot about the city. I hope to have the opportunity to get to know Madrid more. Then I will have the opportunity to go to the centre with my friends, but only when I live in Madrid.”
Are you looking forward to playing a match at the Bernabeu?
“I hope to have a brilliant career there, in a great and impressive stadium. It is a dream since I was a child. All children have it, many football stars have played there. I went to a game a while ago and I could experience the atmosphere, the fans…. I will be very happy to play there.”
Could you build the ideal striker?
“Karim Benzema has all the qualities of a perfect striker, although he is in Saudi Arabia right now, he played for Real Madrid for many years. He understands the game perfectly, he is a spectacular player in every way. The best striker in the world for a long time. Harry Kane and Erling Haaland have the perfect qualities to be the ideal striker you are talking about.”
Endrick in action for PalmeirasEFE
What do you expect from New Balance?
“I hope to be with them for many years to come. I can relate very well and my family can relate very well to what New Balance has to offer.”
I’ve heard you talk about the importance of your parents, the many sacrifices they made over the years, so that you could play football, can you explain that?
“It has been a long journey, sometimes hard. They always helped me, they were always by my side and that has been a great help. At one point in their lives they had a bad time, with moments of hunger and my only objective is that they never have to go through that again.”
What do you look for in each match?
“To have fun and that’s what I do on the pitch. I have fun and that’s what I want to do. I want to be happy. It helps everything to go well. I have fun playing football and I just have to thank God for the life I have today. I chose a complicated path, giving up what kids usually do, but it was for a good cause.”
Do individual awards matter to you?
“Right now they are not important. For me the important thing is the team and without my teammates it wouldn’t be. I have enjoyed the success of Palmeiras and it has been thanks to the work and quality of my teammates.”
In recent days you have been in Madrid and in Boston and have been treated like a star…
“Not even in my wildest dreams, I could not have imagined experiencing everything that is happening to me. One day I met Channing Tatum, and Garland, sportsmen that I have seen a lot on television, because I am a follower of the NBA and I can even play baseball. I was lucky enough to be able to feel the atmosphere, to see the Celtics win… a dream. Until now I had only been to the NBA shop in Sao Paulo.”
Luis Suarez has acknowledged that he would have liked to see you playing for Barcelona…
“I saw a lot of his games with Barcelona. I remember a goal against PSG after beating Thiago Silva and David Luiz. I have learned many things from him and he has contributed a lot to Brazilian football.”
A lot has happened very quickly: Transfer to Real Madrid, first team of Palmeiras, debut with Brazil…
“Things have happened very quickly in my life I have been making many dreams come true. I thank everything to my family, my agents and Palmeiras, who trust me since I was very young. At one point I put my head down because I wasn’t playing, I respected the coach’s decision and I kept working waiting for the opportunity that ended up coming.”
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