Endrick was removed from the Brazilian squad for the World Cup qualifiers in November after struggling to find a chance at Real Madrid.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Brazil’s technical boss Dorival Jr has announced his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay but has not included Endrick. The 18-year-old has not been in any of Real Madrid’s last four games and has not yet played a La Liga with Los Blancos this season. Endrick is not the only high-profile name not included in the squad. Neymar, who was away from the field for a long time due to his knee injury, was not included in the squad.
BIG PICTURE
Endrick is out of the Brazilian squad for the first time since he made his national team’s first match in November 2023, his teammate Vinicius Jr from Real Madrid has returned after missing October’s matches due to his injury, and Chelsea-based youngster Estevao Willian is also on the list. While Endrick’s lack of much chance to play at Santiago Bernabeu made him lose his place this time, Dorival Jr admitted that the players had to wear jerseys in his club to be called by Brazil.
WHAT DID DORIVAL JR SAY?
Dorival told reporters: “Endrick is a transition period today in perhaps the biggest team in world football. This is a natural process that takes time. We all have to live with this decision. The doors of Brazil are not closed to him, I trust him and he knows it. What he has to do right now is to reposition himself in his club so that he will shine later. The club he participates in is trying to get to know him better, Endrick is in a new environment and I insist that this requires a certain time. It is natural that not playing for your club creates a complicated situation. To be here, all football players must be playing.”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR ENDRICK?
Endrick is fighting for minutes at Real Madrid with names likes Vinicius, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham, but is said to be determined to fight for his place and is not interested in a loan transfer in January. Los Blancos, whose league match against Valencia has been postponed due to the flood disaster in Spain, is expected to be on the bench once again while returning to the field against AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.
