Real Madrid are believed to be open to the possibility of letting young starlet Endrick leave on loan in the January transfer window amid the striker's lack of playing time under new head coach Xabi Alonso. Having spent the past few months on the sidelines due to an injury, the Brazilian wonderkid has been named in Madrid's matchday squads in recent times but is yet to make his first appearance this season.
Endrick wants to depart in January
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Endrick is expected to go out on loan in the January transfer window in search of regular playing time. The teenager wants to make a case for himself ahead of next year's World Cup. Unsurprisingly, Real Madrid are believed to be in favour of letting the talented youngster depart this winter.
AdvertisementGettyReal Madrid are stacked in attack
Madrid have begun the 2025-26 season with a bang. Alonso has tinkered with his lineups and has implemented a rotation-heavy scheme in the initial months of his tenure at his former club. Some players like Kylian Mbappe, however, have emerged as one of the pillars of the squad. Amid Alonso's obsession to rotate and keep his squad both fresh and competitive, Mbappe has emerged as the one immovable piece in Madrid's attack. Indeed, he has scored 15 goals in 11 games for Los Blancos this season, showcasing his true abilities after a mixed debut campaign in 2024-25.
Behind Mbappe – who has been deployed as a number nine and is understood to have completed his adaptation in the centre forward role – in the pecking order is the promising Gonzalo Garcia. The academy hero emerged as one of the stars at the Club World Cup during the summer, finishing as the top scorer of the tournament after scoring four goals in six games. His breakthrough displays earned him a promotion to the first team as well as a new contract. The 21-year-old Spanish forward is currently seen as a crucial piece of Alonso's rotational puzzle. He is the player who helps Mbappe afford more rest, although some may argue that Gonzalo deserves to have seen more than the 105 minutes of action across seven games – six of them as a substitute – so far.
Nevertheless, Alonso is determined on keeping hold of Gonzalo for the rest of the season. In recent days, rumours emerged which indicated that Gonzalo will receive numerous offers in the winter transfer window. The former Bayer Leverkusen coach, though, will continue to place his faith in the former academy star as he considers him to be important in his plans.
Madrid fear Endrick's development could stall
Endrick has been unlucky not to have made his first appearance for Real Madrid this season. After an impressive debut campaign, in which he scored seven goals in just 847 minutes on the field, it was expected that the 2025-26 season would result in a bigger role for the Brazil international. Things haven't gone to plan, neither for Madrid nor for Endrick.
At the end of May, Endrick suffered a hamstring injury in his right leg which effectively ruled him out for the next few months, leading him to miss the Club World Cup. His absence was a blessing in disguise for Gonzalo, who took his opportunities by the scruff of their neck. Even though Endrick has been handed the iconic No.9 jersey, he has remained an unused substitute in each of Madrid's last six games.
According to a report from on Monday, club insiders are worried about Endrick stymieing his progression should he continue to remain adamant about staying at the club and fighting for a place. Madrid are understood to be of the opinion that a loan move in January is the best possible scenario for all parties involved. Given Mbappe's status as a fixture of the starting XI and Alonso's continued trust in Gonzalo, it is unlikely that Endrick's fate could change in the short-term.
Getty Images SportA move to Marseille in the making for Endrick?
Madrid legend Guti has advised Endrick to leave the club in search of minutes. "If he doesn't get any opportunities between now and December, I think his best option is to leave so he can continue to grow," Guti said on a broadcast earlier this month. "For a young player, the best thing is to get playing time. What could be decisive? Well, you never know. There are always injuries and moments where the coach bets on you, but that doesn't seem to be his priority right now."
Speculation of late suggests that Ligue 1 table-toppers Marseille are leading the race to acquire Endrick's services on a short-term loan. Head coach Roberto De Zerbi is understood to be adding attacking depth to his roster in light of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Amine Gouiri's absences owing to AFCON commitments. What's more, a shock move to Juventus has made the rounds in the media, too.
