In a letter to his brother, Endrick details family difficulties and his relationship with Real Madrid < In Attack

For the The Players Tribune, Endrick, from Palmeiras, wrote an open letter to his four-year-old brother Noah. In the text, he told stories about his father and mother during his childhood and made unprecedented revelations about his connection with Real Madrid. Last Saturday (23/3), the 17-year-old striker scored the winning goal for the Brazilian team against England and became the youngest athlete to score at Wembley.

This Monday (25/3), the Players released Endrick’s full statement. The jewel from Palmeiras made it clear that his relationship with football has always been very strong. “You can ask mom how I introduced myself to people. Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa, ATTACKER”, revealed the player.

Endrick also recalled the difficult situations he faced with his family and everything they went through together to make his dream of being a football player come true.

“In our family, we were not born with a silver spoon. We were born in the birthplace of football. We always lived on the edge. Dad says I sat on the couch and told him, ‘Don’t worry. With football, I’m going to give us a better life.’ Before that day, I was just a kid and football was just a game. After that day, football became the path to a better life. A few weeks later, I went to São Paulo to train at the Palmeiras Academy and wrote down my first objective: ‘Improve our family’s situation’. Setting goals is something important in my life. It’s my way of talking to God. When I went to Palmeiras, I knew I would have at least 2 to 3 meals a day at school and training”, he pointed out.

“Football was not just my dream, but the dream of our Father, our grandfather, the dream of the whole family. Do you think that when dad was sleeping under the ticket office at Palmeiras stadium, he would have dreamed that his son would play there one day? When I was 15 years old and became a professional at Palmeiras, I can honestly say that I achieved everything I ever wanted in my life, thank God. I managed to buy my mother a house and get our two grandmothers out of Chaparral, which was dangerous. After that conversation I had with Dad on the couch, I knew that I had now achieved my first goal: helping my family have a better life”, he continued.

Endrick, at various points in his testimony, makes it clear and recognizes his parents’ support and incessant fight for him to be able to follow his path in football. “In fact, I didn’t even know these stories until very recently, because Mother (Cintia) always hid her pain to protect my dream. I never saw Mother cry. She used to go into the bathroom so I wouldn’t notice. But Mom called Dad many times, saying she couldn’t take it anymore, that she wanted to go home, but then I came back from training telling stories about what happened that day, and the goals we scored… And she saw my eyes shining. ”, he added

The promise of Brazilian football also highlighted the sacrifice made by his father, Douglas, especially when he came to São Paulo to work at Palmeiras. “They only had one vacancy. Father started working on the cleaning team inside the stadium. He always dreamed of being in a locker room environment when he was a boy, so he would go to work with a smile on his face. He stayed there for three years, first picking up rubbish in the stadium and then being promoted to clean the first team’s dressing room. He told the players that one day his son would play with them.”

Endrick has already demonstrated the affection and admiration he has for his younger brother on several occasions. To the Players Tribunehe recalled a curious event on the day of Noah’s birth.

“I was playing in an important match at the time, I was only 13, and you didn’t want to leave your mother’s belly. The clock kept ticking and ticking, and Mom and Dad wondered what you were waiting for. Then suddenly Father received a call from his friend who was at the game. He said: ‘Douglas!! Douglas!! Endrick just scored a goal!!’ And then, at that exact moment, all that could be heard in the hospital room was Wwaaaahhh!!!!!!!!! You finally came out to celebrate with me,” said Endrick.

Connection with Real Madrid

Endrick was sold by Palmeiras to Real Madrid in December 2022, shortly after signing his first professional contract with Verdão. The jewel of the Palmeiras base will join the Merengues from July 2024, when he turns 18. The striker explained that his connection with the Spanish team dates back to when he was little, when he was seven or eight years old, and that he followed the team’s games.

“When I was little, I didn’t have a cell phone or anything, so I used to borrow mom’s computer and watch the highlights of Real Madrid games. I know you’re too young to remember these names, but I was obsessed with that 2013-14 team with Cristiano, Modric and Benzema. This was my gateway into the club’s history. I started to enter YouTube and learn about Galacticos and then deeper and deeper — Puskás, Di Stéfano… Believe me, in Madrid, you will hear more about these stars”, declared Endrick.

In February this year, the jewel visited Real Madrid’s facilities and spoke to the players. Modric, in particular, revealed something remarkable to Endrick: “Everything happened very quickly, as if I was in a dream. But what I remember most is when I walked into the dressing room and Modric spoke to me. The number 10 shirt was hanging up and he pointed to the seat next to him and said: ‘Number 9 and Number 10. Who knows… next season, maybe you’ll sit next to me’.”

Endrick also reinforced his inspiration from Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest idols in the history of the Madrid club: “More than anyone else, I watched Cristiano. Not just the best moments, but also how much he dedicated himself and what others said about his mentality. From him, I learned that hard work is even more important than talent”, he stated.