While Xabi Alonso has done his best to play down suggestions that Endrick could leave Real Madrid on loan in January with West Ham United jostling for position at the front of the queue, actions speak louder than words.
And when the Santiago Bernabeu boss opted to replace talismanic top scorer Kylian Mbappe in the dying embers of Sunday’s 2-1 Clasico victory, on came Gonzalo Garcia for the final minutes against Barcelona.
Endrick, for the eighth successive match in La Liga and the Champions League, remained on the bench.
So although Xabi Alonso insists that Endrick’s time will come at Los Blancos, it is becoming increasingly obvious with every passing week that Spain U21 poacher Garcia has overtaken the £52 million signing from Palmeiras in his pecking order.
Interestingly, Hammers News can reveal that West Ham have held talks with Real Madrid about potential short-term deals for both Garcia and Endrick.
There is one, however, who looks in far greater need of a change of scenery than the other. Particularly with a spot in Brazil’s World Cup squad up for grabs.
And, as chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey explained at the start of October, this is not the first time West Ham United have enquired about a 19-year-old striker with seven trophies and a Wembley winner against England on his CV.
Real Madrid fans want Endrick loan as West Ham United hold talks
According to Bailey, ‘West Ham have tried to sign Endrick on more than one occasion’. The first attempt came in the summer of 2024, shortly after his 18th birthday. They asked again in January of this year.
After Nuno Espirito Santo lost the luckless Niclas Fullkrug to yet another injury – leaving Callums Wilson and Marshall as his only other centre-forward options – the Hammers will be hoping that this is a classic case of ‘third time lucky’.
The question on the lips of many Real Madrid supporters, however, is what sort of a loan would suit Endrick the most. An ambitious, high-flying club capable of offering European football but plenty of competition for a starting berth? Or a struggling outfit crying out for goals, who would presumably give Endrick plenty of game time albeit while demanding pretty immediate results.
“You can understand him wanting to be at a high profile European club,” one supporter wrote on X in response to claims that Real Madrid are planning to green-light a January deal.
“Problem is, if he aims too high he’s gonna be stuck in the same situation not getting playing time. At Marseille, he could team with [Mason] Greenwood and [Timothy] Weah and help to really challenge PSG. Lille too. Villarreal?
“He’ll be back [at Madrid], but he needs those minutes. And maybe a change of scenery. Everyone should wish him the best.”
“Endrick has to do what suits him and not what suits Real Madrid,” another says. “Go to a club where you can demonstrate all your potential and fight to establish yourself as what you are; a super goalscorer, a superstar.”
“[A loan] is the best decision for the club and for him.”
Endrick tipped to emulate Arda Guler’s revival at Real
One supporter draws similarities between Endrick and the situation Arda Guler found himself in last season. The Turkish playmaker found opportunities hard to come by but, following the departure of Luka Modric, has belatedly established himself as a key cog in the Madrid machine.
On the other hand, the remarkable progress of Nico Paz at Serie A high-flyers Como provides an alternative argument, albeit it is hard to imagine Los Blancos selling Endrick so soon, even with a buy-back clause in his contract.
“This guy is similar to Arda,” one fan argues. “Carlo [Ancelotti] benched Arda. [Now, he is] cooking every single game under a manager who trusts him. Endrick is the same thing, he’s been cooking every time he plays, just needs the manager who trusts him or fits his plans.”
“He is bold, and [looking at alternative destinations] is the best thing to do. Look at how things are going for Nico Paz.”
West Ham have discussed Gonzalo Garcia as well
According to El Chiringuito, Real Madrid met with Endrick’s representatives last week. All parties seem to have concluded that the teenager, still waiting for his first minutes of 2025/26, needs the chance to showcase his undoubted talents on a weekly basis.
“West Ham are working hard behind scenes. They have been and are talking to Madrid. They need to improve things for Nuno,” the aforementioned Bailey tells Hammers News. “Endrick and Garcia are players they like and, in theory, [a deal] is possible.
“On Endrick, we know his deal is big and would be tough. As it stands, I am told he is most likely to stay in Spain on loan. Garcia is possible, but there are a lot of clubs who want him.
