19-Year-Old Endrick Misses Real Madrid Squad for Four Straight Matches, Multiple Summer Offers Rejected, Milan Begins Winter Window Pursuit Plan

After the first three rounds of La Liga ended, Real Madrid's three straight wins placed them firmly second in the table. The entire team was pleased with their start to the new season, but at the Valdebebas training ground, one figure remained somewhat separated from the first team's excitement.

The 19-year-old Endrick has failed to make the squad list for four consecutive competitive matches. Most of the time, accompanied by rehabilitation staff, he has completed strength and stretching exercises alone in the indoor training area, with few opportunities to join full team training.

The hamstring injury he suffered in early August has still not fully healed by September. Out of caution, Real Madrid's medical team has not allowed him to return to full-contact training, which has gradually changed the tone of outside discussions about him.

Some people on social media dug up footage from a previous friendly in which he had zero shots in 57 minutes and immediately labeled him a flop. Many fans who had not watched his earlier matches began judging him based on these fragmented clips, believing that the young forward Real Madrid spent heavily to sign could fail before establishing himself at the Bernabeu.

However, anyone who looks slightly further back at his match record will know how unreasonable that claim is.

Last season, while on loan at Lyon, he scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 21 Ligue 1 matches, directly contributing to a goal every 94 minutes on average. He even broke Benzema's long-standing record as Lyon's youngest hat-trick scorer. During that period, he was one of the most watched young attackers in Ligue 1, and Brazilian media naturally included him in Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad projections.

From his breakthrough at Palmeiras to proving his talent on loan at Lyon, Endrick's first steps in his career had almost entirely followed an upward curve. Everyone expected him to deliver brighter performances after returning to Real Madrid, but no one expected a not particularly serious muscle strain to completely pause his momentum.

More interestingly, Real Madrid's attitude in the summer window was clearly not to quickly send him away to find playing time. Even when clubs such as Arsenal and Manchester United made inquiries and compared him with Odegaard, Real Madrid never softened its stance.

Before the transfer window closed, Real Madrid's coaching staff, management, and player reached an agreement that Endrick would stay with the team for the new season. Any form of sale or loan was not being considered. The reason was clear: Mourinho wanted him to remain in the first-team environment and gradually grow while following the highest-level training rhythm.

Many people did not understand Real Madrid's decision at the time. If the player cannot even make the squad, would staying and waiting not delay his development more than going elsewhere to become a starter? But looking back at the timeline, Lyon's loan spell had already fully increased Endrick's market value. He was no longer just a youngster attracting buyers through his academy background and reputation for talent; his actual goal contributions and status as a Brazil international made him a much more valuable asset than when he first joined Real Madrid two years earlier.

Real Madrid's decision to hold onto Endrick is not essentially about freezing him out, but about waiting for the right moment: allowing his body to fully recover and finding an appearance or transfer plan that matches his current value. If they let him leave now, whether on loan or permanently, Real Madrid would find it difficult to achieve the return they want.

While Real Madrid keeps Endrick in its hands, AC Milan from far away has quietly turned its attention toward next January's winter window.

At the end of the summer window, Milan had already contacted Real Madrid and hoped to sign Endrick on loan with an option to buy. They were rejected by Mourinho at the time, but Milan's management clearly has not given up. Cardinale and Amorim's team began preparations before the summer window ended, making Endrick one of their key targets for winter attacking reinforcement.

For Milan now, they need a young attacker who has already proven himself in Europe's major leagues, someone who can provide immediate quality in attack while also offering long-term squad growth. In their view, Endrick's current lack of playing time at Real Madrid is the best opportunity to make a move in the winter window.

Besides Endrick, another name on Milan's recruitment list is Japanese midfielder Yuito Suzuki, who recently scored a hat-trick in the opening round of the Bundesliga.

Many people's impression of him remains from youth tournaments several years ago, but in recent years he has steadily progressed through European leagues and has become an indispensable core player for Freiburg.

After coming through Ichifunabashi High School, he moved into Europe step by step from Shimizu S-Pulse, later playing for Strasbourg and Brondby. After joining Freiburg in the summer of 2025, his rate of improvement exceeded almost everyone's expectations. He stunned the Bundesliga with a hat-trick in the opening league match of the new season. Freiburg's current valuation of him has reached 35 million to 40 million euros, and even Premier League clubs such as Tottenham would need to carefully consider the financial cost of signing him.

Japanese fans are divided over his future. One side believes his current momentum means he can challenge himself at a bigger platform, while the other believes he should not rush a transfer and should complete a full stable season at Freiburg before discussing future approaches from elite clubs.

For Milan, these two targets are both difficult to acquire: one currently cannot find playing opportunities in La Liga, while the other has just produced the best performance of his career in the Bundesliga.

Real Madrid has already firmly closed the door regarding Endrick. Unless Real Madrid changes its mind in the winter window or receives an offer they absolutely cannot refuse, taking him away from the Bernabeu will be even more difficult than in the summer.

Regarding Yuito Suzuki, Freiburg currently has no intention of actively selling him. With the new season just beginning, the club is unlikely to let go of a key player immediately after he scored a hat-trick. Even if Milan offers a fee matching Freiburg's valuation, negotiations would require considerable time and patience.

More importantly, many clubs are also watching these two potential targets. Arsenal and Manchester United had already shown interest in Endrick, while Tottenham has continued to monitor Yuito Suzuki. In the winter market, Milan will need to prepare for a tough battle if they want to bring either player to San Siro.

There are still four months before the winter window opens. Endrick's injury recovery, Real Madrid's plans for his playing time, and whether Yuito Suzuki can maintain his form in the Bundesliga over half a season will all influence the final outcome of Milan's two potential deals.

For Milan's current management, they can only monitor the situations of these two targets and act decisively at the right moment. In the current Serie A race for Champions League places, every key attacking reinforcement could directly change the final direction of the season.