Real Madrid returns to work on Monday, and one of the unknowns that Xabi Alonso must resolve has to do with the attack. The club faces a dilemma with Endrick and Gonzalo García. Only one can be Mbappé‘s substitute, and the club is still unsure of what decision to make. Both players want to stay and prioritize Real Madrid over other options, but it does not seem that the presence of both is compatible. The coach will have the final say.
Endrick and an injury that complicates everything
During the Club World Cup, Xabi Alonso was unable to call on Endrick, who was in the final stages of recovery from injury and looked set to be in perfect condition for the start of preseason. However, a long recovery process is expected for the young Brazilian gem, who has suffered a relapse of his injury. Endrick suffered an injury to his right hamstring in May and rushed to be in Miami with the team during the World Cup, but he has suffered a relapse that will keep him out for another 8-10 weeks, which means he will not be available until late September or early October.
Endrick’s decision
This period of absence complicates the decision of the player, who has always been firm in his intentions. Although there was speculation about a loan move to get more playing time, the Brazilian wants to stay at Real Madrid and fight for a place in the team. Xabi Alonso is aware of the player’s intentions and talent and is looking at options for him, even considering playing him on the right wing in the absence of Rodrygo, who is not in the plans. The competition is fierce, with Gonzalo in the mix, but Mastantuono is also arriving with a clear attacking mindset and could also play on the right.
Ancelotti’s message
There is one key factor that could sway Endrick’s decision. There is a World Cup on the horizon and the player wants to be with Brazil. The coach is none other than Carlo Ancelotti, who knows the Brazilian inside out and who, in recent days, has advised him to be available for the World Cup squad. According to Rodra, Carlo Ancelotti has had a conversation with Endrick asking him to leave Real Madrid. The Italian coach believes that the best thing for the player is to seek new horizons where he will get more playing time. This advice sounds like a threat, but for now it has not affected the player, who remains firm in his intention to stay despite Gonzalo García’s strong entry into the equation.
Gonzalo arrives like a whirlwind
Gonzalo García has burst onto the scene like a whirlwind. Mbappé’s absence from the World Cup due to health problems led Xabi Alonso to open the door to the youth player, who not only took a peek but knocked it down. What seemed like a risky bet turned out to be one of the best decisions ever. The striker has been the star of the tournament, playing a key role in every game, whether with goals, assists or his movement on the pitch. His good form saw him finish as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals and one assist and earn a place in FIFA’s ideal eleven. These awards vindicate the decision of the coach, who started the summer looking for a number nine and seems to have found him. However, once the World Cup bubble burst, the reality is that Endrick is in the first-team squad and the pace of competition, as well as the level of the matches and opponents, is different.
Future options for Gonzalo
This situation opens up the debate about what is best for the club and the player. On the one hand, Endrick’s injury and his absence during the first part of the competition opens the door for Gonzalo García to stay and prove himself, postponing the final decision until the winter transfer window. The other option is to let the youth player leave, given the great interest he has aroused in the Premier League. A Nico Paz-style departure is being considered, i.e., a transfer of 50% of his rights, with options to buy for future seasons. There has even been talk of a loan deal with Getafe.
A key month for the final decision
Whatever the final decision on Endrick and Gonzalo García, this month of August could be decisive, as it is clear that if a decision is made this summer, it will not be until the last minute. On Monday, both players are called up to Valdebebas, one to continue recovering from injury and the other to prove to Xabi Alonso that he was not just a flash in the pan at the World Cup.