Xabi Alonso continues to recover players ahead of the Club World Cup. The infirmary continues to empty, with more and more members of the squad available to a coach who continues to work tirelessly, step by step, to develop the team’s new style of play. Endrick, one of the team’s rising stars who continues to enjoy the full confidence of the board, has recovered from his muscle injury and is fully fit for the remainder of the Club World Cup.
Real Madrid gets players back
Real Madrid continues to get players back in this final phase of the Club World Cup. For the last game against Juventus, Carvajal and Militao returned to the squad, and for the game against Borussia Dortmund, Eduardo Camavinga and Endrick are back.
It is unlikely that the first three will get any playing time in the upcoming matches, as they have been out of action for a long time. However, the Brazilian striker, although not 100% fit, has only been out for a month and could be an important player if the coach decides to use him.
Endrick faces growing competition
But Endrick faces a significant problem: he has more competition for a place in the starting line-up. The emergence of Gonzalo, coupled with the confidence that Xabi Alonso has placed in him, means that he is even further down the pecking order in a rotation system in which he has not featured much last season. And it is not because of his performance, as his statistics speak for themselves, with a goal every game and a half on average.
That said, he knows he is still very young, that he has the confidence of the board and the coaching staff, and he knows he can get more opportunities with Xabi Alonso. His first year with the team has allowed him to acclimatize, to train with the best, and it is hoped that this season he can take another step closer to becoming the player everyone expects him to be.
Doubts about his role in the team
But at the same time, competition, the emergence of Gonzalo and the arrival in August of Mastantuono are creating a lot of uncertainty at Real Madrid. Another year like last season could be counterproductive for his development; it would be too long without the minutes he needs to continue progressing. After the World Cup, his situation will have to be assessed and his role defined if he stays with the team. Once these details are known, a solution will be sought so that he does not lose playing time.
This solution could be a departure from the team, but never in the form of a sale. Real Madrid could be open to loaning him out to a team of a certain stature that would give him significant playing time so that he can exploit his footballing talent. There are many teams that have already knocked on the door of the Valdebebas offices asking about his situation and that would be willing to give him the continuity he may lack in the capital’s team.
But all this will be decided after the Club World Cup. For the time being, the player is once again available to Xabi Alonso, and we should not rule out any plans involving him. The Basque coach has already made it clear that he is open to major changes, and the Brazilian could feature in his plans. Not everyone can fit into the starting eleven, but he could become an important player for next season.