GdS: ‘Operation Endrick’ – Milan’s strategy revealed ahead of January move for Real Madrid talent
AC Milan never let Endrick out of their sights, and they are preparing a January move to sign the Real Madrid forward.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) reports that the Endrick dossier has been sitting on Gerry Cardinale’s desk for several weeks, but it is far from gathering dust. The RedBird chief and Ruben Amorim are well aware that the Brazilian could represent a major opportunity.
The Rossoneri tried to sign him during the summer window. They got the player’s approval for a move to Milan, they were thwarted by Jose Mourinho, who refused to part with the former Palmeiras talent despite the attacking talent at his disposal.
Consequently, Cardinale struck a deal with Nottingham Forest for the loan of Omari Hutchinson, who plays the same position as Endrick. In three months’ time, if the Englishman has failed to settle in and the Brazilian is seeing little playing time in Madrid, his name will once again become a hot topic.
Few opportunities
Endrick is currently with the Brazil squad under Carlo Ancelotti, who has fielded him in all three friendlies they have played. However, the 20-year-old has played just four minutes for Real Madrid during the 2026–27 season, partly due to a muscle injury.
The 139 minutes played with the Seleção will help him shake off some rust and regain decent match fitness, all with the hope of earning a larger role in ‘The Special One’s’ rotation. Between Saturday and November 8, Los Blancos are set to play eight matches, making squad rotation essential.
This is particularly important given that Mbappé is recovering from a knee injury sustained with France and cannot be overworked once he returns to action. When Real Madrid signed him at sixteen and a half, Endrick knew he would have to fight for playing time.
Consequently, after a promising 2024–25 campaign – featuring seven goals in 37 appearances – he agreed to a loan move to Lyon last January to secure more consistent minutes. He proved his worth in France (recording eight goals and eight assists in 21 appearances) and now hopes for a chance at Real.
Now, Endrick is being targeted by several European clubs. In Italy, the main rivals are Roma, who have already initiated contact with the player’s entourage and will have the opportunity to speak with Real Madrid during the Champions League match on Wednesday 14th at the Stadio Olimpico. Aston Villa also pursued him last summer but received the same response given to Milan.
A potential assist
Milan have partnered with Endrick’s agency Roc Nation since 2020, dating back to the club’s ownership by Elliott. The relationship has continued under Cardinale, who operates in the same sports and entertainment sectors as the rapper Jay-Z’s company in the United States.
In August, the bond between the RedBird chief and Roc Nation strengthened further through a joint investment in Tom Brady’s CardVault. CardVault aims to transform the traditional market for trading cards and memorabilia into a broader platform linked to sports culture and entertainment.
Both Cardinale and Jay-Z believe that having Tom Brady as a shareholder will drive significant growth for CardVault. This initiative also benefits from the work of Mark Dowley, a key figure on Cardinale’s commercial team with a track record of business dealings involving the NBA, Premier League, NFL, Jay-Z, and LeBron James.
Consequently, the network of non-football connections Cardinale has cultivated over the years could prove highly valuable to Milan, which believes its partnership with Roc Nation gives it an advantage in the pursuit of Endrick.
Last December, when Endrick went to Lyon, Real received just €1m for the loan, specifically to avoid including any kind of buy-out clause in the French club’s favour. It is all but certain that Milan too will not have the option to purchase the Brazilian, who cost Real €35m plus €25m in bonuses.
If the Rossoneri want him, they can only have him for six months, perhaps starting in January by bringing the deal forward just as the French club did ten months ago. When the time is right, Cardinale will make his move.
