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All arrangements had been made, including which church Endrick and his family would go to. In November 2022, Todd Boehly, the new leader of Chelsea, invited the 16-year-old Brazilian to come to Cobham and Stamford Bridge to meet some players. The goal was to persuade him that his first destination in Europe should be west London.
Endrick has been recognized as the top emerging player in international soccer for quite some time. He is so skilled that it is predicted he will emulate the success of his fellow Brazilians Pelé, Ronaldo, and Romário and achieve global stardom. During our meeting at his residence in São Paulo, the 17-year-old forward for Palmeiras reveals that he came close to signing with a Premier League team. “It was a near miss. My parents were fond of London and it has a great reputation.”
Douglas, the father, takes over the narrative. “I have to confess, I am not fond of cold weather, but my wife and Endrick enjoy it. Endrick especially loves playing in the rain. We were invited by Chelsea’s owner, Chelsea, and we visited the club and the country. We had the opportunity to watch Chelsea compete against Arsenal and we were able to see the coach, the facilities, and players such as Jorginho, César Azpilicueta, and Thiago Silva.”
They provided us with all the necessary information. They introduced us to the individual who would assist us with getting settled. She gave us a tour of the residence we would be living in, the school that Endrick would be attending, and the church we would be joining. Everything seemed perfect for us and Chelsea.
“I can’t say 100% because I hadn’t signed, but the deal was agreed. I had already got it into my head that I would live in London with all that cold weather. But then at night, my son’s manager phoned and said that the Chelsea owner had backed out of the deal because the price they would have to pay for Endrick would inflate the market. It was €60m [£51.4m] for a 16-year-old boy who would only arrive in the country almost two years later.”
In the end, it was not meant to be, but things have turned out well for Endrick. One month later, he agreed to a deal with Real Madrid, which the president of Palmeiras, Leila Pereira, called “the most significant negotiation in the history of Brazilian football.” He will officially join the Spanish team in July 2024, after making his debut for Brazil last month.
Endrick’s current life is vastly different from his past. Though he is now a highly renowned player in Brazilian football, with wealth and recognition, his parents faced challenging circumstances that remain etched in his mind. Despite never experiencing hunger himself, Endrick’s parents sacrificed for him, and he draws strength from their struggles. He is determined to prevent them from facing such hardship again, and does not want to see them go without food while providing for him.
Endrick was born in Taguatinga, a city near Brasília. Although Brazil’s federal capital has a high standard of living, the surrounding area experiences significant violence and poverty. This was the environment in which Endrick’s parents lived. Douglas recalls, “My childhood was very challenging and difficult. When I first arrived in Brasília, my two sisters and I had to live in an orphanage for six months because our father had abandoned our mother. She didn’t have a home or a job, so the orphanage was our only option.”
Douglas attempted to establish a professional career in the sport of football. He played for multiple smaller teams in Brazil, but did not find much success. In the 1980s, well before his permanent relocation in 2010, he made a journey to São Paulo, but did not achieve his desired outcome. “I took a bus from Gama to Luziânia with just a backpack and two bottles – one of juice and one of water – and I traveled by hitchhiking,” he recalls. “I arrived in São Paulo on one of the coldest nights of the year. I slept on the streets and woke up to a woman hitting my shoulder and inviting me to stay at a hostel so I wouldn’t freeze to death.”
Although he has not faced the same challenges as his parents, Endrick is empathetic towards those who are excluded. This is why, in addition to learning new languages to advance in his career, he also has a strong desire to communicate with deaf individuals. “I have made it a personal goal to learn five languages, one of which will be particularly important to me – sign language. I want to be able to connect with everyone and communicate with those who are mute or hard of hearing,” he explains.
Endrick has already made a significant impact in the game. His latest achievement was the most crucial one. He was the top player in Palmeiras’ victory in the Brazilian league, making it the second consecutive national title in his career. Scoring 11 goals, he became the first player under 18 to reach double digits in the Brazilian league since Neymar, who scored 10 goals in 2009. However, Endrick’s response to this success is quite reserved, as he admits himself. He acknowledges that he is not very expressive. According to his mother and sister, he is cold-hearted. Others say that he has a heart of ice and is very stoic with his decisions and words.
Maybe this is his method of coping with the numerous changes and stresses in his youth. Several months prior, severe censure towards Endrick prompted him to make a decision to modify his actions and address those who criticized him.
At one point, I was upset because I felt the need to prove my identity to others. I attempted to defend myself against their criticisms and showcase my true self. However, I eventually realized that I didn’t need to constantly validate myself or prove them wrong. I am who I am, and if they choose to insult me, I will not let it affect me. Though it can be challenging, their criticism no longer holds any weight in my life.
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Endrick remains unfazed by the criticism and is particularly uneasy about the negative opinions surrounding Neymar in Brazil. He compares Neymar’s reception in Brazil to that of Cristiano in Portugal, Messi in Argentina, and Lewandowski in Poland. It seems that Brazilians do not hold Neymar in high regard, which can be disheartening for the player. However, Endrick chooses to focus on the task at hand and hopes to bring joy to Brazilians through his performance with the Brazilian team.
The Brazilian Ronaldo is one of Endrick’s touchstones in the game. Another is Cristiano Ronaldo, both idols of Real Madrid, his next club. With more than 7.5 million followers on social media, Endrick is starting to get used to being among the biggest stars. He has received messages of congratulations from Ronaldo and also from Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo.
“They are incredibly talented individuals. They consistently send messages and leave comments on my Instagram photos. The thought of one day being in their company brings me great joy. I am extremely grateful, but I must focus on taking each day as it comes. Ultimately, the future is in God’s hands.”
Next July, Endrick will team up with fellow Brazilian and black player Vinícius Júnior, who has also faced racism. Endrick himself has experienced similar hateful remarks at the age of 10 and is disappointed by the lack of consequences for those responsible. He shares, “My aunt went to the police to report it, but there were no repercussions. From a young age, we know that racists are not held accountable and nothing is done about it. That’s why I support Vini, Rodrygo, and all players in football.”
I had an amazing experience playing for the national team. It’s a familiar place for me since I was part of the youth team. When I returned, it was an indescribable and special feeling. I can vividly remember the first time I wore the Brazilian jersey. It gave me chills and made my stomach flutter with nerves. It was during a game against Mexico in Montaigu. I even took a moment to admire myself in the mirror while wearing the shirt. Fortunately, that game turned out to be a lucky one for me as I scored a goal. After that, I felt more at ease and confident. The jersey fits me perfectly and that day was a great success. I played with strength and determination.
Endrick is conscious of the responsibility he bears, given the challenges he and his parents have faced. He takes pleasure in playing football and considers it his ultimate goal in life. He believes that his happiness is crucial to his success and is grateful to God for the life he has now, despite a childhood that may not have been as carefree as others.
Source: theguardian.com
