Brazil coach Dorival Junior has revealed that he has had a lengthy discussion with Real Madrid tactician Carlo Ancelotti about the development of their prodigy Endrick.
Endrick, just 18, has scored six goals in 28 appearances since joining Real Madrid from Palmeiras last summer, but has only played 494 minutes for Los Blancos.
Wearing the number 16 shirt at the Santiago Bernabeu, it is feared that the striker will not play in the 2026 World Cup due to a lack of game time at the club. Indeed, he was initially left out of Dorival’s squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers with the Selecao. Fortunately, Endrick was named as a replacement for Neymar, who had picked up another injury.
“Endrick has been monitored (to defend the Brazilian national team), and very closely,” said Dorival in a press conference on Monday (24/3) local time.
“On this last trip (to Europe), I spoke with Ancelotti for about two and a half hours. We talked about many things, but especially about the moment that Endrick is going through (lack of playing time),” he added.
“He has improved a lot compared to what we knew a year ago. When he was in the Palmeiras uniform (Endrick) showed his best potential and now he is much more mature. That is normal,” said Dorival Junior.
“I’m sure, in a year in Europe (playing at Real Madrid), this happens. If he stays here (in the Brazilian League), he will develop a little differently,” added the 62-year-old head coach.
Although Endrick did not feature in Brazil’s 2-1 home win over Colombia in World Cup qualifying on Friday (21/3), as quoted by ESPN , Dorival believes time will continue to run out for the wonderkid to shine.
“Endrick has caught the eye in all the (Brazil national team) training sessions, and now it’s just a matter of time (for him to shine),” he added.
“We need to have more possession of the ball with our team. That’s why I put the characteristics of Joao Pedro and Matheus Cunha (in the starting line up), who give us that ability,” said Dorival Junior.
“However, since we have had better balance and consistency (in possession), we can get more out of Endrick and the quality he has,” he said.
Meanwhile, Endrick also spoke to Brazilian legend Romario, who once led his country to world championship glory, about the 18-year-old’s desire to play in the World Cup wearing the Selecao uniform.
“Honestly, what often crosses my mind is that I am afraid of not playing in the World Cup,” he told Romario TV.
“You (Romario) also experienced it, my father even told me that you hoped you would not get the call (for the 1998 World Cup). So I had this fear. Because it was my dream. It’s difficult to say because I wanted to be at the World Cup and help Brazil win its sixth title,” he said.
“Of course it’s difficult, being at the biggest club in the world (Real Madrid), with the best players, and you don’t always have the chance to play. But every time I play, I want to show a little bit of my best ability to get into the national team. I hope next year I can get into the national team and win the World Cup,” he said.
Endrick has scored three goals in 13 appearances since making his debut for Brazil in November 2023. The Selecao have won six and lost four of their 13 World Cup qualifiers. They are third in their South American qualifying group after a 2-1 home win over Colombia on Friday (21/3).
On Wednesday (26/3), they will play in the South American El Clasico against their rivals Argentina, who will be without captain Lionel Messi. Brazil have not won against La Albiceleste since 2009.
