Real Madrid prodigy called up by Brazil for first time
- Endrick named in Brazil's November squad
- 17-year-old will join Real Madrid in 2024
- Vinicius Junior & Rodrygo also selected
Brazil have included 17-year-old Endrick, expected to be a superstar of the future, in their squad for this month's 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.
Endrick has only previously represented his country at Under-17 level but is one of five uncapped players named in the November squad by interim head coach Fernando Diniz. The others are Brighton forward Joao Pedro, Porto's Pepe and fellow Brazil-based pair Paulinho and Nino.
In-form Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz is also back in the fold for the first time since 2021.
Endrick has just reached the end of his first full year in the Palmeiras first-team, which saw him score 11 times in 47 appearances across all competitions and help the club to the Copa Libertadores semi-finals. He only celebrated his 17th birthday in July.
Of course, the emerging prodigy is already globally famous thanks to his pre-arranged transfer to Real Madrid. At the end of last year, the Spanish giants signed off a deal with Palmeiras worth up to €72m (£62.5m) in total for a player who was just 16 at the time.
Under FIFA's rules regarding international transfers, Endrick is not able to make the move to Spain until he turns 18 in the summer of 2024. It was a transfer that mirrored Madrid's €46m capture of Vinicius Junior from Flamengo in May 2017 when he was also just 16. Rodrygo's €45m transfer from Santos was another similar deal, arranged and secured when the player was 17.
Both Vinicius and Rodrygo, who are also part of the Brazil squad for the upcoming games alongside their young future clubmate, have gone on to become Real Madrid superstars in the years since turning 18 and relocating to Spain, meaning there is high hope for Endrick to follow suit.
Indeed, in 90min's Football Manager 2024 simulation of the next ten years, Endrick was runner-up in the 2032 Ballon d'Or and then went on to win it in 2034 - still aged just 28. He was no longer a Real Madrid player at the time, however, having joined Manchester United for £124m in 2029.
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