Gilberto Silva has hinted at Arsenal’s potential interest in Barcelona and Real Madrid target Endrick from Palmeiras.
Endrick is a name football fans of Barcelona and Real Madrid have heard for a few months. The Palmeiras prodigy is under the spotlight after explosive performances in Brazil, alerting the big clubs from Spain.
Real Madrid and Barcelona have registered an interest in bringing the 16-year-old to Spain. The rivalry between the two clubs have often seen them battling for the same top names in South America in the past, including Neymar. And it could be a similar case with Endrick.
Barcelona’s current financial predicament may allow Real Madrid a free run for Endrick. That is because Palmeiras’s asking price for the teenager could prove problematic for the Catalans.
Other Premier League clubs, such as Chelsea and Manchester United, are also monitoring his situation. Endrick’s explosive performances at the junior level earned him a first-team call-up. He has since featured twice this season.
Now, former Arsenal midfielder and World Cup winner Gilberto Silva has hinted at possible interest from Arsenal in Endrick. Silva holds good relations with Arsenal director Edu Gaspar. Hence, it adds credibility to quotes that appeared on Four Four Two via Metro.
Silva said, “We know the importance in football of being well connected to people, clubs, sporting directors, and presidents of the club. This is how things happen.”
“But there is big competition to get the best players from the best leagues. For Palmeiras, they are going to receive a lot of calls from many clubs, the best clubs in the world, to try and bring him to them. Let’s see; if at some point Arsenal did manage to bring the player, they would be getting a very good player.”
Arsenal have invested in Brazilian players recently. Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli, Marquinhos and Gabriel Jesus joined in recent windows. With Edu’s connections, they will continue looking at some top prospects coming out of the country, including Endrick.
Whether the interest is genuine will be clear in the coming months. Arsenal may back out if Palmeiras stick with their reported €70 million asking price. They will not pay so much for a 16-year-old unpolished diamond.
