Ancelotti laments Endrick’s limited role at Real Madrid

Carlo Ancelotti, head coach of Brazil, has voiced frustration over the low minutes Endrick is getting at Real Madrid and used the situation as an example of a wider issue: young players often leave Brazil for Europe too early and then struggle to play.

As reported by RMC Sport, Ancelotti supported a plan from the Brazilian football confederation to reduce the number of foreign players in domestic teams, aiming to give more playing time to developing youngsters. The Italian linked the policy directly to what he’s seeing with one of those talents.

Few minutes, slow progress

Endrick signed for Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 for close to €50 million. Since then, RMC Sport says he has 41 matches and 7 goals for the Merengues. The article adds that even a promising loan spell at OL in the final six months of last season (21 games, 8 goals) and his appearances at the World Cup haven’t translated into a bigger role in Madrid.

It also notes that after an injury this summer, he has only logged four minutes in La Liga.

A new loan in January?

Italian media, according to RMC Sport, suggest Endrick is heading for another loan move in January, with AC Milan and AS Roma showing interest. For some, that would look like a sign that leaving so early didn’t work out as planned.

CBF cuts foreign quota

This week, Brazil’s confederation (CBF) approved a staged reduction: clubs can use nine foreign players now, then eight in 2027, dropping to five by 2030. Ancelotti backed the idea to help youngsters improve through playing time.

Paulo Vinicius Coelho explained the problem on UOL Esporte: young players “don’t progress because they don’t play”, pointing to Endrick and Estevão at Chelsea. Ancelotti, meanwhile, stressed that he believes Endrick can become a key piece for Brazil in the future, as RMC Sport reports.