Real Madrid: Endrick could be the new number 9

Kylian Mbappé’s decision to change his number, becoming Real Madrid’s new ’10’ following the departure of the legendary Luka Modrić, is a clever marketing move, but it also presents the Merengues with a slight challenge. Indeed, doubts persist as to who will wear the number 9 shirt next, which is historically associated with the centre-forward position.

According to the newspaper AS, the Brazilian Endrick is currently in the lead, ahead of the Spaniard Gonzalo García, who was unveiled this summer during the Club World Cup (6 matches, 4 goals, 1 assist). The problem is that the uncertainty surrounding the future of the young Brazilian international (14 caps, 3 goals) is delaying any decision and maintaining the suspense. Franco Mastantuono, recruited from River Plate for around 45 million, will join Real Madrid on 14 August, his 18^(th) birthday. He could become another candidate to wear Mbappé’s old number, since, as the Spanish daily also points out, the Madrid management prefers to present its new recruits with a shirt number for marketing reasons. If no decision has been made within two weeks, it is possible that the Argentinian will take responsibility for choosing his own number upon his arrival.