"Always because of him, I already know the club" - Real Madrid-bound star hails Cristiano Ronaldo as his footballing idol

Real Madrid-bound Palmeiras sensation Endrick has explained that he's acquainted with Los Blancos because of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portugal captain is the club's record goalscorer with 450 goals in 438 games across competitions.

Ronaldo, 39, spent a hugely successful nine-year stint at the Santiago Bernabeu, between 2009 and 2018. While with Los Blancos, he won two La Liga and four UEFA Champions League titles - including an unprecedented three-peat - among various domestic and continental honours.

Endrick - who's set to join Carlo Ancelotti's reigning Spanish and European champions - explained that Ronaldo is his idol. Elaborating how that led to his interest about Los Blancos, the 17-year-old sensation said in a Daily Mail exclusive:

"My strongest and best memories are of Cristiano Ronaldo, my idol, playing for Real Madrid. Because of him, I researched a lot about other great players from the club, but always because of him. I already know the club, part of its structure."

Endrick is currently with Brazil for their Copa America 2024 campaign in the USA. The nine-time Copa winners open their quest for their first continental title since 2019 against Costa Rica in Inglewood, California, on Monday (June 24).

Meanwhile, Ronaldo is in action with Portugal at Euro 2024, opening their campaign with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in Leipzig on Tuesday (June 18).

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Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo on the cusp of multiple milestones at Euro 2024

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is the most decorated player in European Championship history, having become the first player to appear in six editions of the competition on Tuesday.

If he scores, the Real Madrid legend will become the oldest to do so in Euro finals history and also the first to net in six editions of the competition. For context, nobody else has scored in more than three editions.

The all-time Euro top-scorer (both qualifying - 41 and finals -14) needs an assist to go level with record assist provider Karel Poborsky (seven). Ronaldo has arrived in Germany in a rich vein of form, striking 44 times across competitions for Al-Nassr in his first full season in Saudi Arabian football.