GdS: The ‘Endrick formula’ – Milan aim for initial loan then renegotiation with Real Madrid
It may be a new week, but Endrick is once again being linked with a January move to AC Milan by Monday’s Italian newspapers.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) recall that it was a Portuguese coach – formerly of Milan – who revived Endrick’s career. Under Paulo Fonseca, the forward rediscovered his scoring touch, his ability to provide assists, and the confidence that had been eroded by his time on the bench at Real Madrid.
At Lyon, where Fonseca moved two weeks after his dismissal by the Rossoneri, Endrick achieved more in six months than he had in two-and-a-half seasons in Madrid. In France, he tallied eight goals and as many assists in 21 matches, compared to 7 goals and one assist in 41 games for Real.
This trend shows no signs of reversing: having been hampered by muscle issues, the Brazilian’s season is effectively just a mere four-minute cameo off the bench against Elche in LaLiga on September 15th.
Immediately afterward, he spent another full 90 minutes on the bench during the derby against Atlético. It has not been the meteoric rise expected four years ago, when Madrid acquired the then-16-year-old for a fee of €35m plus €25m in add-ons.
Another club could now step in to change his fortunes and that club might well be Milan. The winter transfer window is already open.
A six-month boost
When Milan target a player, they often succeed in signing him. The summer transfer window – with the arrivals of Mario Gila, Goncalo Ramos and Diego Moreira – is partial proof of this. Other deals were merely postponed for the winter.
Gonçalo Inácio was eyed as a defensive reinforcement from Sporting CP, but it was Endrick whom the club had already pursued in late August. It was Jose Mourinho who insisted on keeping him, forcing Milan to look elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the pecking order in Real’s attack has remained unchanged, and overtaking the likes of Vinicius, Mbappé, Diaz, Diomande and the rest is no easy task. The club’s stance remains unchanged for the moment, too: if anyone wants Endrick, they are free to come forward with a loan bid.
This arrangement would allow Milan to have him in the squad for five months at no cost, and then who knows? Contracts can always be renegotiated. January necessitates less complex negotiations, so the parties could discuss a loan deal with a promise to revisit the situation in the summer.
In the meantime, while on loan at Milan, Endrick would need to prove his worth to the new project and fit seamlessly into the attacking system. He would likely be deployed as a right-sided attacking midfielder in the duo supporting Ramos, partnering with Christian Pulisic.
However, he could also operate in other systems, either supporting the centre-forward or playing as the ‘false nine’ striker himself. The area where Endrick would play is a crowded one, yet lacks a definitive starter.
Alexis Saelemaekers was the last to partner with Pulisic before his injury. Earlier in the season, Alphadjo Cissé played a key role, and the end of the transfer window saw the addition of Omari Hutchinson, also on loan from Nottingham Forest.
Excellent relations
Negotiations between the clubs could be facilitated by the great relationship between Gerry Cardinale and Roc Nation Sports, the agency representing Endrick’s interests. It is an industry powerhouse, even though Roc only began representing footballers – specifically elite-level ones – a few years ago.
Milan and Roc Nation have been linked since 2020 through a ‘unique partnership driven by innovation, community, integrity, and inclusion’, as per the official announcement. While transfer dealings aren’t explicitly on the agenda, these well-established ties could certainly help in that regard.
For instance, they could help by beating competition from Roma (in Italy) and clubs abroad. Milan and Real Madrid – historically friendly clubs – could reach an agreement quickly. Endrick would almost certainly welcome the idea of revitalising his career at San Siro, too.
His wages are within reach: he signed with Real while still under 18, a year and a half before his actual move to Europe. Endrick has recently been involved with the Brazilian national team, and who knows if Carlo Ancelotti hasn’t had a word in his ear. The next three months will tell us more.
