Endrick: Real Madrid's New Wonder Boy

With social media's influence on the modern game it is normal for players to be dubbed the 'next big thing' far too early into their careers and it is becoming seemingly normal for players to attract interest from big clubs before they make their first senior appearance for club or country. While he seems like yet another social media phenomenon, the 2006-born, Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa is a different case and the hype is very well justified.

Endrick is a forward for Palmeiras who excels in his position. Despite being only 16 years old, he seems to be a considerably better player than many others in his age category and has proven that at the youth levels.

According to reporter Fabrizio Romano, Endrick will join Real Madrid in June 2024 when he turns 18 years old. The deal will run through at least 2027, with three years of options through 2030.

Palmeiras president Leila Pereira said it's the "biggest sale in Brazilian football history," per Romano.

Technically, his game is everything you'd expect from a Brazilian forward, he has a brilliant first touch and does extremely well in tight spaces especially when his back is facing the goal and like most Brazilians is extremely skill full and creative with his dribbling. His immaturities do show at times when he tends to showboat however its' a trait which if coached well can be transformed to an extremely useful asset for a player to possess.

His movement is extremely advanced for his age, while he isn't usually involved in progressing the play he can drop deep to receive between the lines and combine due to his strength and can still quickly get into advanced positions thanks to his pace. He usually positions himself between the centre backs and is always ready to run in behind. He often drifts out to the wide areas and uses his pace and skill to create chances from there for both himself and the team, however, this is mainly during transitions to create space and is usually intelligently positioned near the central areas of the final third.

A complete striker capable of creating numbers and displaying his skillset

Coming from the land of Joga Bonito, Endrick carries the full weight of Brazil's glorious football heritage. When given the opportunity, he does not hesitate to flaunt his prowess to dance around with the ball and trip others up. But does it indicate he's overly preoccupied with the visual appeal of it? Certainly not.

Consider Endrick's age in comparison to the complete striker he is, since owning that degree of finishing precision and positional awareness is clearly beyond simple comprehension.

Endrick makes a strong case for outstanding finishing ability with pinpoint precision and terrific force in his shots. In the last year or so, he has scored some of the most difficult goals, including overhead kicks, flicks from tight angles, and long-range screamers.

Endrick is usually in the right place at the right time as a result of his dribbling talents and positional awareness. He is tough to mark and follow, which is where his speed comes in handy. He asks for the passes, makes the appropriate moves, exposes and exploits pockets of space to generate a goalscoring opportunity in a flash, which he, as previously stated, scores with ease.

Another card in the starry stack is his confidence. He is not hesitant to engage in close duels and is frequently seen making tackles that are occasionally awkward and originate from the heat of the moment.

Despite his little stature, his aerial talent is impressive. He is powerful and can jump high enough to balance out the effect of his height. Though his aerial talent does not contribute to the end result, it is another arrow in his quiver.

Edrick: Not just a forward player, other dynamic qualities as well:

Endricks' pace and power means he often wins free kicks' in decisive areas and wins nearly 3 fouls per 90, allowing his team to create through set pieces and his ability to draw fouls is also a trait which can easily translate to senior football.

He also is extremely good with linking up play and uses his dribbling effectively to create chances for his teammates, often playing intricate 1-2s with his teammates such as the one depicted below. Endrick is also very good under pressure and is an effective tool to drop in sometimes in order to beat a higher press, despite not dropping back often its' something he can do and this shows his offensive versatility at just 15.

Furthermore, despite being the 'golden child' of his team Endrick is an extremely hard worker, his speed allows him to effectively press and he recovers the ball often for a striker.

A great addition for Real Madrid, but there is always room for improvement

Despite all the hype and potential Endrick shows and the interest he has generated, he's still only 15 and there's no telling where the prodigy lans up in the years to come. While he will develop his game even more, even if he doesn't he's an extremely interesting talent at the senior level with the flair and poise of a Brazilian forward combined with an incredible instinct for goal.

The Brazilian is a rising star, but there are a few factors that may hold him back. He is still extremely raw, and while his abilities shine brightly in Brazil, they may be a little scratchy in Europe's rugged play.

The athlete is frequently seen participating in uninvited tackles, and his young zeal gets him into conflict at times. However, It will progress well over time, and there aren't many issues currently.