Young striker Endrick Felipe, one of Brazil’s brightest football prospects, is currently experiencing a situation at Real Madrid that closely mirrors Vitor Roque’s struggles at FC Barcelona. Both were signed by European giants after shining in Brazil and were seen as long-term investments, but neither has managed to make an early impact. The key difference lies in media treatment: while Roque was quickly criticized, Endrick has been handled more delicately.

Endrick could follow Roque’s path… but with a different narrative

Vitor Roque was unveiled with great fanfare in Barcelona, but he barely had any chances before being loaned to Real Betis and later sold to Palmeiras at just 19 years old. He scored only 2 goals in 16 appearances, and there was a general feeling that he never had a real chance to shine. Barça sporting director Deco later admitted the timing of his arrival was not ideal, saying Roque came in “at the wrong moment.”

In Endrick’s case, his story in Madrid isn’t much different. Signed in 2022 for €72 million (including fixed fees, bonuses, and taxes), expectations were sky-high. Yet his impact has been minimal: 7 goals in 37 matches, only 8 as a starter, and a recent muscle injury that kept him out of the Club World Cup.

The tournament proved particularly unfortunate for the Brazilian, as the emergence of Gonzalo García, who scored 4 goals, pushed him further down the pecking order under new coach Xabi Alonso — even more so than under Carlo Ancelotti. According to Cadena SER, the club is already asking: “What do we do with Endrick?”, and the most likely scenario is a loan move.

Several European clubs have shown interest. Olympique de Marseille, qualified for the Champions League, appears to be a strong option. Other clubs reportedly monitoring him include PSV Eindhoven, RB Leipzig, and even Villarreal. Getafe, which has an agreement with Real Madrid involving Gonzalo García, could also be a potential destination.

Despite the large investment, Real Madrid now acknowledges that Endrick needs regular playing time and confidence — something he may have to find away from the Santiago Bernabéu. The immediate goal is to avoid the same outcome as Roque, whose European dream faded too early. A loan move could give Endrick the opportunity to grow and return stronger, rather than becoming just another lost talent.