Rome had been tilting towards an Italian victory when Endrick was sent on, but the Brazilian’s first meaningful night of the 2026/27 campaign helped turn the Champions League match into a 4-3 Real Madrid comeback. In 37 minutes on the Olimpico pitch, he scored once and played a decisive part in another goal, altering a game that had seemed to be moving away from José Mourinho’s side.
The result came in the second round of the league phase and gave Mourinho a particularly satisfying evening in the Italian capital. It also brought Endrick’s situation into sharper focus: before facing Roma, the forward had accumulated only 10 minutes of competitive football all season, despite the coach’s repeated insistence that he does not intend to let the player leave in the next transfer window.
A long wait before Rome
Endrick’s limited involvement followed a muscle injury affecting a tendon, suffered after pre-season and serious enough to keep him out for more than a month at the start of the campaign. Once he returned to the matchday squad, beginning with the Inter Milan fixture on 8 September, opportunities remained scarce.
He was an unused substitute against Inter, Rayo Vallecano on 12 September, Elche three days later, Atlético de Madrid on 20 September, Villarreal on 10 October and, initially, Roma. His only previous appearance had come against Elche, when Real were already 2-1 ahead. Introduced in the 85th minute, he played the five minutes of stoppage time as well, giving him a total of 10 minutes before the trip to Italy.
Against Roma, Mourinho called for him in the 58th minute, with the home side appearing to have control of the contest. Endrick’s goal and his contribution to another strike became central to Madrid’s recovery, offering the teenager a far more substantial platform than he had been given in the preceding weeks.
Mourinho had already acknowledged that the player’s lack of minutes was not simply a consequence of form. Speaking before the Rome match, he explained that Endrick had been close to entering against Villarreal, only for a Real Madrid goal to change the situation. With his team leading and then reduced to 10 men, the coach said the demands of the game required different decisions.
The Portuguese also made clear that clubs considering a loan or permanent move should not expect an opening soon, telling potential suitors to wait rather than pursue a January approach. He said he had discussed the shortage of opportunities directly with Endrick and conceded he had not been able to use him as often as he would have liked after the forward’s recovery.
The weeks ahead may nevertheless create room for Endrick. Vinícius Júnior will miss Real Madrid’s next four LaLiga rounds after a red card for pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair, with his protests following the dismissal also counted against him. After a night in Rome that transformed both a match and the mood around his season, Endrick may now have a clearer route into Mourinho’s plans.
