For Real Madrid, the ongoing period is not only about chasing silverware but also about assessing the future of one of their brightest young talents, Endrick.
The Br azilian forward has experienced a season of limited opportunities, but the Copa del Rey could be his platform to prove himself.
Endrick’s playing time in La Liga has been minimal, with the youngster featuring in only 4% of the available minutes.
His total of 105 minutes in the league has been spread across 16 appearances—hardly enough for him to leave a lasting impact. However, his Copa del Rey journey tells a different story.
Across just four matches, Endrick has played 285 minutes, more than double his La Liga tally, and he has started in three of those games.
Even in the Champions League, he has managed more playing time than in La Liga, underlining the difficulty he faces in breaking into Ancelotti’s preferred line-up for domestic matches.
The Copa del Rey has offered Endrick a genuine chance. Impressively, he stands as Real Madrid’s top scorer in the competition, netting four goals in four matches.
That’s three more than Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.. His most recent achievement was scoring the only goal in the first leg of the semi-finals against Real Sociedad.
Now, with the second leg fast approaching, all eyes will be on Endrick to see if he can deliver once again.
Despite his promising performances in the Cup, Endrick remains far from a guaranteed starter. In fact, he is currently the third player in the first team with the fewest minutes played this season, only ahead of Jesus Vallejo and David Alaba.
The upcoming clash against Real Sociedad could be a defining moment for Endrick. If Carlo Ancelotti decides to utilise him once more in the Copa del Rey, it may signal a growing trust in his capabilities.
However, if his minutes are limited or non-existent, it could indicate that Ancelotti only resorted to him due to the absence of Mbappe rather than genuine faith in his talent.
Should Endrick continue to struggle for opportunities beyond the Copa del Rey, he may find himself at a crossroads.
Considering a loan move to gain valuable playing time elsewhere could become a realistic option if he remains on the fringes of Ancelotti’s plans.