Palmeiras wonderkid, Endrick, has garnered a lot of attention in 2022 after his breakthrough performances at the Copinha tournament when he was just 15 years old. Having taken note of his prodigious talent, a host of European clubs are planning a swoop for the teenage striker.
But, according to a report from Mundo Deportivo, it is Barcelona and Real Madrid who are leading the chase for Endrick, even though the youngster will only be able to leave Brazil in 2024 when he turns 18.
The teenage sensation signed his first professional contract with Palmeiras in July, when he celebrated his 16th birthday, committing his future to the Brazilian club until the summer of 2025.
The 16-year-old made his first-team debut for the Brazilian outfit earlier this week when he came on as a substitute in the 4-0 win against Coritiba FC.
An extremely gifted individual, it is only natural that clubs of Barcelona and Real Madrid’s stature are pushing to sign him, considering that the two La Liga heavyweights have always tried to swoop away the best of talents from Brazil.
Barça are even said to have held talks with the 16-year-old’s camp to confirm their interest in signing him and are reportedly planning to initiate negotiations with Palmeiras over a transfer at the end of the season.
But, as per the report, signing Endrick from Palmeiras could end up costing a sum of around €70 million. It could become a potential deal-breaker for both Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The Catalans splashed the cash on new signings this past summer, but they relied on economic levers to generate cashflow which they used to fund signings and register the incoming players.
Unless the financial situation improves drastically, it will be tricky for the club to spend such a sum, especially considering that they have other mega targets like Bernardo Silva on their agenda.
