Endrick credits – Endrick says his move to Real Madrid was immediate when the offer came, but breaking into Carlo Ancelotti’s squad was far from simple. In an interview, the Brazil striker also credited loan spell at Lyon—and the everyday support of teammates like Jude Bellingh
When Endrick thinks back to his first months at Real Madrid, it’s not the dream that stands out. It’s the pressure of trying to fit into a team stacked with elite names—and the loneliness that can creep in when playing time doesn’t come.
The Brazil international is set to return to Real Madrid this summer after a loan spell at Lyon. That time away, he says, wasn’t a detour so much as a lifeline that helped him develop into someone Brazil could trust when it came time to earn a spot for the 2026 World Cup.
In an interview with Men in Blazers on YouTube, Endrick described the moment Madrid reached out. “In the end, when Real Madrid calls you and makes you an offer, it’s impossible to say no. It’s the best team in the world and where everyone wants to play. When I received the offer at Palmeiras. I didn’t hesitate for a second.” He said Real Madrid was always the destination. and once it arrived. hesitation never had a chance.
He also pointed to the influence of Cristiano Ronaldo. “My childhood idol was Cristiano Ronaldo. When he signed for Madrid, it made me dream even more about playing there. There have also been so many Brazilians throughout history who played for Real Madrid. and that always made it my dream to wear that shirt.”.
The dream, though, came with a reality check. Endrick acknowledged that breaking into Carlo Ancelotti’s team was never going to be easy, given the competition around him. He described his first year as a struggle—arriving into a dressing room where Luka Modric. Vinicius and Rodrygo were already defining performances. “The first year is difficult. You arrive at a team with players like Modric, Vinicius and Rodrygo. It’s very hard to play when you have all of them around you, but you also learn so much. Everything I learned there. I was able to put into practice at Lyon. and when I return. I’ll be able to show it there as well.”.
Even without minutes, he insists he wasn’t left to handle it alone. He singled out support from players who made themselves available when things were hard. “Bellingham calls me every day. When I was struggling, he would come over and we would talk. He helped me a lot. Trent as well. They’re very close and approachable players. I try to learn from them, including English, but it’s impossible to understand them.”.
Endrick’s comments land with particular weight because he’s describing the kind of moment that rarely makes headlines: the quiet part of adapting to a giant club, where the difference between sinking and growing can be as small as someone checking in.
What he does next is give a full picture of why Lyon mattered. He said leaving Madrid temporarily for regular minutes wasn’t something he feared. “It wasn’t difficult to go to Lyon. In the end, God told me I had to go, and I went. I wasn’t afraid. It has been one of the best decisions of my life. I needed to play. I’ve been able to score goals, provide assists and play a lot of minutes.”.
That loan spell, Endrick said, became crucial to his development—and ultimately helped secure his place in Brazil’s World Cup plans.
When the conversation turns to the tournament, the tone shifts back to ambition. “Playing in a World Cup is the greatest thing. Being able to represent my country is a dream. The World Cup means so much to people, and it has been a long time since Brazil won it.”
He also spoke about his relationship with Neymar and with Carlo Ancelotti ahead of the tournament. About Neymar, he said: “Neymar has Brazil’s DNA. He is one of the best players in our history. I get along very well with Ancelotti. He’s a great coach and understands you very well as a person. I know they have a lot of affection for me.”.
Endrick is returning to Real Madrid this summer with a new kind of confidence—built not only on goals and minutes at Lyon. but also on the daily support he described from teammates when the hardest stretches hit. In his story, the turning point wasn’t just a decision to leave. It was the realization that, even in the middle of a struggle, someone will show up and talk.
Endrick Real Madrid Lyon loan Jude Bellingham Trent Carlo Ancelotti Cristiano Ronaldo Neymar Brazil national team 2026 World Cup
Real Madrid always sounds easy in interviews lol.
So he went to Lyon and that’s what fixed it?? I swear half these soccer guys just need a year to get used to the bench.
Wait, did they say Bellingham helped him deal with pressure, or was that Ancelotti? The article text is messed up but either way, Madrid is stacked so anyone would struggle. Also Cristiano influence was probably the real reason, not the playing time lol.
I’m confused why everyone’s making this deep. If Real Madrid called you, you say yes, like obviously. But “loneliness when playing time doesn’t come” sounds like every job ever? And Lyon was a lifeline… okay but how does that help with World Cup in 2026 if he’s still not starting? Sounds like PR to me.