Brazilian forward Endrick will get his time to shine at Real Madrid, according to his coach José Mourinho.
Endrick, 20, has remained at the Bernabeu this summer despite being in demand in the recent transfer window following a successful loan spell at Lyon in the second half of last season.
Asked why he didn’t allow Endrick to leave Madrid this summer, Mourinho told TNT Brazil on Monday: “Because of the qualities he possesses, the positions he can play in … He’s a goalscorer and teams need goals. And he’ll obviously have plenty of opportunities to play and develop. Then, with the national team, he’ll find another manager who can really help him develop.”
Mourinho believes Endrick, who played in his first World Cup this summer, is still in a transitional phase with plenty of room to grow.
“I find it hard to believe he’s a finished product,” the Portuguese manager said of the former Palmeiras starlet. “He has to work hard here, work hard with [Brazil coach] Carlo Ancelotti. I wanted him to stay with us because I recognise his potential to become a player of Real Madrid’s level.”
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Endrick is regaining his fitness after missing Madrid’s opening four league games because of a muscular injury.
“He is not in condition to play for more than five or ten minutes,” Mourinho said of Endrick ahead of their Champions League clash against Inter Milan. “He trained for the first time with the team yesterday [Sunday], he hasn’t played since Austria in a friendly match [in August].”
Mourinho, meanwhile, is also hoping Endrick’s teammate Vinícius Júnior will return to his best form.
Vinícius has one goal and two assists in four league games for Madrid this season and played all 90 minutes in Friday’s 1-0 league loss at Real Betis but failed to score.
“He’s one of the best player in the world,” Mourinho told TNT Brazil when asked about Vinícius. “We all agree with that. I have a good rapport with him just as I have with the rest. He’s not yet at the top of his form.
“Let’s say that he’s a player that takes a bit longer to get there but when he does, he is crucial.”
