Chelsea have been told to learn from their mistakes after missing out on a move for Brazilian wonderkid Endrick. The 17-year-old forward is set to join Real Madrid in the summer after rising through the ranks at Palmeiras.
The teenager came to global attention by scoring eight goals in seven games at the Copa Sao Paulo de Futebol Junior U20 tournament, back in 2022. Chelsea were one of several elite sides to show their interest in the prospect, alongside Liverpool, Manchester City and PSG. Chelsea even invited Endrick’s family to Cobham where the forward metThiago Silva, Cesar Azpilicueta and Jorginho.
The Blues reportedly entered into negotiations to sign the striker but were unable to meet Palmeiras’ demands for a player who would not have been eligible to join the club until July 2024. Instead, Real Madrid agreed a £52m move for Endrick in December 2022, shortly after making his first team debut. The Brazilian’s agent Frederico Pena has spoken about how Chelsea missed out on the forward.
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“I think Real decided that they were never going to miss another talent like Vini or Endrick after Neymar moved to Barcelona,” Pena told The Telegraph. “Maybe there is a lesson for Chelsea because they were in front at the start.
“The boy’s parents visited Cobham and were impressed, but Chelsea were worried about the fee and then when Real came in and were prepared to pay what Palmeiras wanted, it became almost impossible for them.”
The report adds that Chelsea found a local church that the family could attend and that Endrick had previously begun to learn
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