Endrick will join Real Madrid for their full pre-season this summer after Brazil spectacularly failed to qualify for this summer’s Olympic Games.
Brazil won gold in both 2016 and 2020 but will not get the chance to defend their medal after a 1-0 defeat to Argentina on Sunday evening saw them fail to seal a spot in this summer’s showpiece in Paris.
Endrick started all three games in qualifying but failed to find the back of the net in any, even missing a penalty in the opening fixture as Brazil slumped to defeat against eventual group winners Paraguay.
While the exit is obviously a huge blow to Endrick and Brazil, it comes as a welcome boost to Madrid officials who were expecting to be without their new striker until after the Olympics come to a close in mid-August.
Madrid have not confirmed the dates for their 2024 pre-season tour, but they began their 2023 round of friendlies on July 23. With next season’s schedule likely to be similar, Madrid will clearly have Endrick available for the entire summer ahead of La Liga’s start in August 2024.
It’s the first time Brazil have failed to qualify for the Olympics in Endrick’s lifetime, having last missed out in 2004.
“Sadness, mainly shame,” Endrick’s strike partner John Kennedy reflected after the game. “A team the size of Brazil cannot be left out of the Olympics. There’s a little shame – no, a lot of shame.”
Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, the captain of the team, added: “It wasn’t the way we wanted. Now it’s time to get your head straight, see where you went wrong and move on. It’s a very bad feeling. We worked hard to prepare for the Olympics. Of course we wanted to qualify, we wanted the title.”
While Endrick is set to join up with Madrid for their pre-season campaign, Los Blancos could have to wait on Kylian Mbappe even if they agree to sign him on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. 90min understands Mbappe is determined to play at his home Olympics with France and has made that clear to interested parties.
