Endrick facing 'last chance' for Real Madrid in Copa del Rey tie against Minera

Endrick could be running out of time to impress at Real Madrid, with Monday night's Copa del Rey clash with fourth tier side Minera potentially a defining moment for the teenager.

Endrick arrived from Palmeiras to much fanfare in the summer - his transfer secured more than 18 months earlier in 2022 when the player was just 16 years of age, in similar fashion to how compatriots Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo had earlier joined the club.

But despite scoring on his La Liga debut in just a four-minute cameo against Real Valladolid in August, and later on his Champions League debut against Stuttgart the following month, things have been incredibly tough for the Brazilian teenager.

Endrick has started only once for Real Madrid and his La Liga minutes since the end of September total just 42, producing no further goals. He didn't even make it off the bench in wins over Sevilla and Valencia either side of Christmas, or indeed during the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final.

AS suggests that Carlo Ancelotti's refusal to commit to whether Endrick will start against Minera, three divisions below Madrid in Spain's football pyramid, is a concern and that failure to be selected in the lineup could indicate that his situation is already being reviewed, while a poor performance if he does get the nod could also prove costly.

If Endrick, out of favour in La Liga and the Champions League, cannot get a meaningful opportunity in a cup tie of this nature, it would be tremendously damning. Typically behind Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler in the attacking pecking order, the youngster's window to impress is otherwise very limited.

AS adds that, so far, it has not been the club's intention to seek out a loan for the remainder of the season, not least given the threadbare nature of the wider squad.

Endrick freely scored for Palmeiras across the 18 months beginning at the start of 2023, also making a promising start to his international career with record-breaking goals against England and Spain. But the player had a shocking Copa America to forget, including a 90-minute appearance in the quarter-final against Uruguay in which his only successful pass was the kick-off.

READ THE LATEST REAL MADRID NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP