Endrick has opened up on his "dream" of playing for Real Madrid, mentioning the impact that Los Blancos legend Cristiano Ronaldo had on his aspiration. The Brazilian forward was unveiled as a new Los Blancos player on July 27 at the Santiago Bernabéu.
In December 2022, the Spanish giants announced that they had reached an agreement with Palmeiras, Endrick, and his family to sign him when he turned 18 in July 2024.
Speaking about his transfer to the La Liga side, which he referred to as his "dream," Endrick said (via @MadridXtra on X):
"I hope to play here for many years. It was always a dream, when I was a child and now I am achieving it. When I saw Cristiano Ronaldo, I started to learn more about the history of Real Madrid."
Cristiano Ronaldo arrived at Santiago Bernabéu in 2009 from Manchester United and remained there until 2018. The Portuguese legend won two La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey, two Supercopa de España, four UEFA Champions League titles, two UEFA Super Cup, and three FIFA Club World Cups during his time with Los Blancos.
The Brazilian forward signed a six-year contract with Real Madrid and was given the No. 16 shirt.
"Combines the best of everything" - Real Madrid's new signing Endrick on why he idolizes Cristiano Ronaldo
Endrick, who has always been open about his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, hailed the Portuguese icon while speaking to TyC Sports, and said:
"[He is] an example of a player that combines the best of everything."
Earlier, the Brazilian wrote a letter to his brother on The Players' Tribune, where he mentioned learning a lot from watching Ronaldo. The 18-year-old wrote:
"You can learn anything on YouTube. It's like a university. More than anyone, I watched Cristiano. Not just his highlights, but also how hard he worked, and what others said about his mentality. From him, I learned that hard work is more important than talent. One day, I hope to meet him. I still haven't yet, as I am writing this. But his son follows me on Instagram, so I hope that by the time you are reading this I have been able to shake his hand."
Endrick netted four goals and provided two assists in 22 appearances across all competitions for Palmeiras last season.