Milan target Endrick as Madrid minutes fade before Talavera Copa del Rei
Real Madrid have given the 20‑year‑old Brazilian striker Endrick just four minutes of game time this season, prompting AC Milan to re‑ignite their pursuit as the January transfer window approaches. The club sees a chance to secure the forward after his limited utilisation under José Mourinho and a recent injury spell.
Why Milan need a new option
Endrick’s minutes have been scarce; he featured only in a warm‑up session before Real Madrid’s Copa del Rei tie against CF Talavera, a moment captured in a Foto by Esporte News Mundo. With Kylian Mbappé also sidelined by a knee injury, Madrid’s attacking depth is thin, leaving the Brazilian on the periphery of the squad.
During the 2026/27 campaign Endrick logged merely four minutes for the Spanish giants and missed time through a muscular injury. Internationally, he accumulated 139 minutes across three friendlies against Australia and India while representing Brazil, underscoring his need for regular play.
Negotiation backdrop and alternatives
According to the Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Endrick remains on the radar of Gerry Cardinale, leader of RedBird, and Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim, who view his limited exposure as an opportunity. Milan received a positive signal from the player in the previous transfer window, but Mourinho refused to release him then.
Ruben Amorim could reunite with two former players at Milan in January
When Endrick stayed in Madrid, Milan opted to bring in Omari Hutchinson on loan from Nottingham Forest. Should Hutchinson fail to cement a place, Milan may revisit Endrick’s situation in January.
Endrick’s career path includes a €35 million fee plus €25 million in bonuses when he joined Madrid in December 2022 at 16½ years old. He spent the latter half of the 2025/26 season on loan at Lyon, scoring eight goals and providing eight assists in 21 appearances, before returning to Spain.
Other clubs, such as Roma and Aston Villa, have also expressed interest, but Milan’s long‑standing partnership with Roc Nation – the player’s agency – gives them a strategic edge. The most likely scenario for January is a six‑month loan mirroring his Lyon spell, without a compulsory purchase clause.