Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has confirmed that the Catalan giants have been talking with Endrick, a target for Real Madrid.
As quoted by 90min, Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has revealed that the Catalan giants have held talks with Endrick and his environment. The Brazilian wonderkid is also a target for Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Palmeiras will demand around €60 million to part ways with the young striker.
Endrick has the world at his feet at the tender age of 16. The teenage wonderkid burst into the spotlight after his displays at the Copinha, a prestigious youth competition in Brazil. And he has gone from strength to strength in the last few months, making his first-team debut for Palmeiras.
The Brazilian prodigy has already made his mark for the Palmeiras first team, scoring three goals and assisting one in seven games in the season’s final stretch. Endrick’s progress has not gone unnoticed either, with some of Europe’s most high-profile clubs, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, being keen on signing him. And Xavi Hernandez has now confirmed Barcelona’s interest.
Barça manager Xavi on Endrick: “We've been talking with Endrick’s father and also with the player. I explained them the project. We want him, he’s a top talent”, tells ESPN. 🚨🔵🔴🇧🇷 #FCB
“Endrick is the kind of player we need. I hope he joins Barça. It's up to him to decide”. pic.twitter.com/WjH5QAiGtl
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 26, 2022
The Barcelona boss said, “We have been speaking with his father and also directly with the player. I explained the project we have in Barcelona. We want talent and he is a talent, capable of making a difference. He can score, he can dribble, he has a brutal ability to make the difference. He is a player from the present, who is already playing in the Brazilian league, and also from the future. He’s the type of player we need.”
“He’s the type of player we need. He knows the project we have here at Barcelona and we are talking. We hope he becomes our player, but it depends on him. It always depends on the player. Usually, a player will end up playing where he wants to play, so it’s a very personal decision by Endrick.”
Barcelona and Real Madrid both need to lay down succession plans for their first-choice strikers. Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema are well into their thirties and will be closer to their respective retirements in two years. Considering Endrick will only arrive in Europe in 2024, that will be the perfect time for him to succeed either striker.
But the Brazilian wonderkid will not come cheap, with Palmeiras demanding €60 million for him. And while Real Madrid might be confident of signing Endrick, recent reports have claimed that PSG and Chelsea are closer to landing him. It will be interesting to see if Barcelona or Real Madrid can win the €60 million race.
