Endrick reveals he is inspired by Real Madrid legend: “I’m a No. 9 with the soul of a No.10”

While Kylian Mbappe has always dominated the headlines when it comes to signing a number nine, it must be noted that the club already have a youngster lined up in Endrick.

The young forward agreed to join Real Madrid earlier in the year and is slated to move to Santiago Bernabeu next year, when he turns 18.

In a recent interview with L’Equipe, Endrick talked about his upcoming move to Real Madrid and how he is prepared for the challenge ahead.

"I work every day to arrive at Real Madrid ready to help the team," he said. "The pressure? I’m used to it. It isn’t nice, but I have to deal with it."

The 17-year-old talked about Karim Benzema, even comparing his own traits with that of the Frenchman.

"I’m a number nine with a soul of a number 10. I have loved Benzema since his years at Lyon. When Cristiano left, he became another player, a scorer, and an assistor. I watched him a lot and his style of play is very inspiring," he said.

The teenage sensation went on to reveal what Vinicius Junior had said after he finalised his move to Santiago Bernabeu.

"Viní Jr told me I was going to enjoy myself [at Real Madrid], have fun and that it would be the highlight of my career," he said.

At just 17, Endrick has already racked up close to 50 competitive appearances for Palmeiras, even scoring ten goals.

This has led to suggestions that he may soon earn an international call-up with the Brazilian national team and may even be a part of the Selecao for the 2026 World Cup.

Endrick, though, is more focused on playing in the upcoming 2024 Olympics for Brazil. "People talk to me about the 2026 World Cup, but I want to play in the 2024 Olympics first. I hope to get that chance," he said.

Endrick’s comments hint at the fact that he would be open to taking on the mantle of replacing Benzema, though he also suggested that he would love to play with Kylian Mbappe.