Real Madrid ended a difficult season last weekend, marked by injuries that have been a real plague, hampering the work of Carlo Ancelotti, who was also experiencing a clear end of cycle with a model that had run its course. Injury reports have been a constant for the Whites, with only Luka Modric and Arda Güler escaping unscathed.
More than 50 injury reports and over 250 games have been lost this season in Real Madrid’s squad. Without a doubt, although it may be the luck of the draw, physical preparation will be one of the challenges of the Xabi Alonso era that began on Monday. The Spanish coach is accompanied by his staff, who will begin work in a few days with their minds set on the Club World Cup.
Endrick the latest to fall
The injury plague that has ravaged Real Madrid has reached its peak in recent weeks, with the list of absentees reaching 11 players. In the penultimate league game against Sevilla, Vinicius and Rodrygo were still out of the team, which meant Endrick returned to the starting line-up in attack. However, the young Brazilian was unable to finish the game due to injury.
In the 56th minute, the striker went down with discomfort in his hamstring. He was able to walk off the pitch under his own steam, but alarm bells were ringing. It looked like a strain, so he was not ruled out for the final game of the season at the Santiago Bernabéu against Real Sociedad. However, the medical report revealed the harsh reality.
The Brazilian striker has suffered an injury to the hamstring tendon in his right leg. “Following tests carried out today on our player Endrick by Real Madrid’s medical services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the hamstring tendon in his right leg. He will be assessed on a day-to-day basis,” Real Madrid announced through its official media channels.
With this injury, he is expected to be out for a couple of months, which rules him out of the Club World Cup, which begins in just over two weeks, and, depending on the results, he could be out until mid-July for Real Madrid in the United States.
Endrick’s discreet season
Before the injury, as we said, he gained a prominence that, beyond the Copa del Rey, he lacked throughout the season. However, he has not taken advantage of the opportunity. Endrick did not break his drought in the last few games in which he earned a starting spot. Neither against Sevilla, where he was injured, nor against Mallorca did he make the most of his starting spot. Against the Bermellones, he missed a one-on-one against Leo Román early in the game, which seemed to knock him back and leave him lacking confidence to create any danger for the rest of the match.
The statistics say he scores a goal every 114 minutes, but of course there is a catch. Endrick has only played 847 minutes all season. Most of those came in the Copa del Rey, where he fought for the top scorer title with Ferran Torres, who won it with five goals throughout the tournament. However, in La Liga, his only goal came on matchday 2 against Real Valladolid. In other words, he has not scored in La Liga for eight months, which leaves his future wide open.
Juventus, an option for the Brazilian’s departure
The arrival of Xabi Alonso, as he himself indicated in his presentation press conference, will bring with it talks with each and every member of the squad, something that, added to what he sees in training, will enable him to make a decision on players such as Endrick who are considered transferable if the need arises.
In this scenario, a suitor from Italy has emerged who would offer the Brazilian striker a home. “Endrick has offers from many clubs in Europe to go out on loan. There is one club that is repeatedly knocking on Real Madrid’s door to take him on loan, as the club does not want to sell him, and that is Juventus,” said journalist Eduardo Inda on El Chiringuito de Jugones.