'The Special One' decides — Endrick to stay at Real Madrid
Real Madrid rejected loan bids from Roma and Aston Villa; Mourinho and club president back Endrick, who will wear No. 9.
On August 11, 2026 Real Madrid closed the door on loan offers for Endrick and confirmed the young Brazilian will remain at the club for the coming season.
Despite interest from top clubs — notably Roma and Aston Villa, which sought a temporary deal — Real Madrid decided against any loan move. The club’s coaching staff, led by José Mourinho, signalled that Endrick will be part of the first-team plans and is expected to compete for playing time.
Sporting role and backing from the hierarchy
Mourinho sees Endrick as more than a conventional striker and believes the teenager can be a threat also from the right flank, a role he has filled before at Palmeiras and, most notably, at Olympique de Marseille under coach Paulo Fonseca. That tactical flexibility weighed into the final decision.
Florentino Pérez’s personal appreciation for Endrick also played a part in the outcome, according to club sources, and the player himself has accepted the challenge of fighting for minutes "under equal conditions." Pre-season appearances were pivotal in convincing Mourinho to keep him in the squad.
For the new campaign Endrick will wear the No. 9 shirt for Real Madrid, a number that signals the club’s intention to include him prominently in its attacking plans.
The decision was effectively made overnight on August 11, 2026 and ends speculation about an exit for the forward ahead of the start of the season.
Photo: press material from the event
