A boy signed for Madrid before coming of age, left Brazil at 18, landed at the Bernabéu and within two months had already scored goals in La Liga and the Champions League, had already showcased the New Balance boots he chose over the almighty Nike, and even, just in case more surprise was needed, he had already gotten married.
The boy, now a man in football and in life, is Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa, pronounced Endriqui in the stands and on TV, nicknamed Bobby, as will be explained, to a dressing room that treats him like a "little brother," they say in Valdebebas. Like Güler, the other wonder kid in Ancelotti's squad, they are the proteges of the European champion and tonight against Espanyol, they will have a new opportunity.
Everything good is said about Endrick at the club. They talk about a teenager unaffected by pressure. How could it affect him, one may wonder, when at 15 he was already carrying the weight of tens of thousands of Palmeiras fans on his shoulders, the Brazilian champion during the two years the forward was part of the first team and a giant organization in the country. He scored 21 goals in 82 matches, many coming off the bench, and sparked a bidding war across Europe for his signature, both from clubs and brands. And Endrick decided with risk.
He wore the Real Madrid shirt before that of Chelsea or Milan, teams that could have promised him more playing time. He said "yes" to Juni Calafat, the head scout at the white club and responsible for the arrivals, among others, of Vinicius and Rodrygo, and quickly climbed several levels in European football. Because that's how Endrick does things. Shots and life decisions. An impulse: goal.
In his boots, the attacker dared to wear New Balance sneakers, saying "no" to Nike, which dominates everything in Brazil. The American brand sponsors the national team and its stars, past and present, from Ronaldo Nazario and Ronaldinho to Vinicius. It has embraced Brazilian samba, leaving Adidas with a significant portion of the European territory, but not with Endrick. Less than a year ago, the footballer decided to leave the brand and sign with New Balance. "That surprised many and speaks volumes about him," explain those who know him.
Indeed, in Valdebebas they speak of "a very special guy, with a great personality and his own ideas." He already demonstrated this in his Champions League debut against Stuttgart. With the score at 2-1 and the Germans pressing, the Brazilian led a counterattack towards the opponent's goal. Alongside him were Mbappé and Vinicius, with numerical superiority over the opposing defenders. But Endrick didn't hesitate. Upon reaching 25 meters from the goalkeeper, he declined to pass the ball and instead unleashed a missile with his left foot to score the 3-1.
His teammates couldn't believe what he had done. "If he had missed, I would have killed him," said Courtois. "He's crazy. He did something that I think no one else would do," joked Rodrygo. "In recent days, he has shown great courage in every way," Ancelotti teased in a press conference. Everyone calls him Bobby because in an interview he mentioned that one of his idols was Bobby Charlton, a historic player from 1960s England. A detail that everyone jokes about.
Beyond the goals, within the team's buzz, a situation regarding the private life of the young footballer has been notable. Last week, he married his partner, 21-year-old model Gabriely Miranda. An intimate wedding that confirms the love between them, which has been going on for several years, and their deep religious feelings. The player is an evangelical Christian, like other teammates such as Rodrygo, and has signed a marriage contract, explained by the couple, with several clauses regarding leisure, language, or video games: he cannot have a virtual girlfriend, there are forbidden words like "ok" or "um" because they show indifference, and they must make plans as a couple every week that they both enjoy. If any clause is breached, a gift must be bought.
On the field, Endrick seizes his moments. He has two goals in just 20 minutes and stays after each training session practicing shots on goal and putting in extra hours in the gym. He has a supernatural lower body, so much so that he landed somewhat unbalanced on the upper body. A situation he is working on with the club's physiotherapists and nutritionists. "He has everything to become a star," they insist.