Endrick: Real Madrid player watch

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Real Madrid have reportedly already committed up to £60m to sign Endrick Felipe, the hugely talented 16-year-old Brazilian who is already a first-team player at Palmeiras. It was December 2022 when Real Madrid completed the deal to bring the youngster to Spain following his 18th birthday in July 2024. The deal was struck shortly after Endrick played a role in the tail end of the 2022 Brazilian league season, in which Palmeiras and Endrick were crowned champions.

His early performances have drawn praise from some of the most prominent figures in Brazilian football. The legendary Ronaldo, formerly of Real Madrid, said: "I think he's a kid with a very promising future and he's already playing professionally. [Moving to Real] would be a sensational experience for him and for the future of the national team."

Technical analysis

A left-footed attacker, Endrick stands out for his confidence at such a young age. He is not simply a goal-poacher who is calm and assured in front of goal, though. He also does an important job for his team in linking play in the final third.

He can play in a few different positions, although as his career goes on he may come to have a more fixed position. For now, his versatility is a useful asset. He can play on the left or right side of a front three, or as a centre-forward, and has also made the odd appearance as an attacking midfielder or playmaker behind a forward. When used there, he has the freedom to roam the final third and look to receive between the lines (below).

He is adept in these situations, because he bursts forward at pace quickly after receiving it, aiming to isolate a defender one-on-one. He is extremely dangerous once he has the opportunity to take on an opponent, but he also has the dribbling ability to get out of underloaded situations when facing two defenders – as long as he has space to knock the ball into. If he isn't able to progress in central areas, however, he can shift the ball out of his feet quickly and shoot from range (below).

Connection with the ball

Endrick shows great awareness when he drives forward with the ball. He keeps his head up and checks his surroundings constantly, so he knows where opponents are approaching and where his teammates are. He is strong despite still being so young, and uses his body well to hold off challenges.

His technique when running at opponents is simple but effective. He will keep the ball close by with his left foot and use lots of small touches to draw his opponent in. When there is space to exploit, he has the pace to take advantage with a bigger touch and a burst of pace (below).

His exceptional close control and dribbling helps him get his team into the final third quickly. Here, his main intention will always be to dribble towards goal. His agility and ability to adapt and shift his body weight while travelling at pace with the ball at his feet make him extremely dangerous.

Endrick as a striker

Although Endrick has already had to deal with the first goal drought of his short career, having struggled to find the net at the start of the 2023 campaign, that doesn't tell the true story of his ability in front of goal. He showed at the end of 2022 how consistently he can find the corner of the net; there’s no reason he can’t score at the rate of a classic penalty-box striker despite being so much more than that.

When playing as a striker, he is often in the right place at the right time to finish off a move. He will happily drop away from the opposition’s defence to receive, or move out wide to start a counter-attack, but he will then make every effort to make the box and offer a goal threat as the move progresses upfield.

He makes quick, sharp movements to receive away from his opponent, and will also use these kinds of powerful movements to lose his marker in the penalty area. As a result, he is very good at finding space in the box. Along with his finishing ability, this can be a devastating combination.

Although he is primarily an attacker who is focused on attacking and scoring goals, he is happy to work hard off the ball and hassle defenders. He frequently attempts challenges and tackles to win the ball, or to disrupt the opponent and force them into a mistake (above).

Despite being on the small side at 5ft 8ins, Endrick is good in the air. He never shies away from an aerial duel, and he has an explosive jump. He leaps high enough to challenge bigger opponents in the air, or at the very least put them off balance, which might then help a teammate win the second ball.

Evolution

There is still plenty for Endrick to improve in his game. He is still raw and, while his skills catch the attention, he needs to develop how he uses them once he makes the move to Europe.

As is to be expected of such a young player, he can sometimes hold on to the ball too long and try to do too much on his own. He needs to improve his tactical reading of the game; this will help him do what’s best for the team more often, rather than trying to score goals and win games all on his own (below).

His tactical knowledge will improve as he plays more games and plays in different systems. This will help him develop relationships with teammates and understand how his actions can help the collective.

However, these are normal issues for a player who is still only 16 years old. The pressure and expectation that has come with the announcement of a future move to Real Madrid is something else he will have to learn to deal with. He will have plenty more pressure on his shoulders once he makes the move to the Spanish capital – but, if he puts that to one side and concentrates on fine-tuning his game, he has more than enough potential to be a success in Europe.

To learn more about football tactics and gain insights from coaches at the top of the game, visit CV Academy

Author: The Coaches' Voice