There is never a good week for a muscle problem, but the week before a LaLiga opener runs it close. The Endrick injury confirmed on Friday will keep Real Madrid’s 20-year-old Brazilian out of Sunday’s trip to Schalke 04, ending a pre-season that had been going quietly well and handing José Mourinho one more name to cross off before the serious football starts.
Los Blancos close their summer programme at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday, 16 August — the final pre-season friendly of Mourinho’s first summer back, and his last look at the squad before the visit to Espanyol on 22 August. Melchor Ruiz of COPE, relayed by Madrid Universal, reports that Endrick has suffered a muscle overload and will not travel. The forward hopes to be available for the league opener instead.
What the Endrick injury actually is
The first sign came earlier in the day. Rubén Martín of AS reported that Endrick had worked indoors at Valdebebas rather than joining the group session. No club statement has followed, and there is still no word on when the problem was picked up or how long it might keep him out.
A muscle overload is not, on the face of it, an alarming diagnosis — the sort of thing a fortnight of sensible management usually settles. It is still enough to cost him ninety valuable minutes in Germany.
That matters more to Endrick than it would to most. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Lyon under Paulo Fonseca, returned to Madrid this summer and scored against Fiorentina in a pre-season that suggested he intended to stay and fight for a place. Madrid Universal report that Roma and Aston Villa have both made approaches about a temporary move, and that both met the conditions he would want, but nothing has advanced — plans changed at the Bernabéu once Gonzalo García was sold.
Mourinho is not short of forwards
The absence is a blow to the player rather than a crisis for the manager. Carlos Espí has been one of the quiet successes of the summer since arriving from Levante, and Kylian Mbappé is back in training after his World Cup break, putting him in line for his first appearance under Mourinho.
Yan Diomande, the most expensive of the club’s six summer arrivals, is available and still waiting on a debut, as are Marc Cucurella and Ibrahima Konaté. Mundo Deportivo, via Madrid Universal, expect several of those first appearances to arrive on Sunday.
Bellingham and Tchouaméni remain doubts
Endrick is not the only question mark. Jude Bellingham only returned to training on Wednesday, and Mourinho has yet to decide whether to include him in the travelling party. Aurélien Tchouaméni is at the end of a minor muscular problem: Bernabéu Digital report, citing Arancha Rodríguez, that the Frenchman is progressing well and will be available for the opener, even if Sunday may come a few days too soon.
They join a list that has been growing all week. Raúl Asencio, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo and Éder Militão all stay in Madrid to continue their recovery work, along with academy midfielder Thiago Pitarch. That leaves Mourinho with a back line already down to three fit senior centre-backs as he finalises his plans for Espanyol.
None of this changes the shape of the season, and Madridistas have seen enough August muscle scares to know how little they usually mean. But it does change Endrick’s week. Ninety minutes in Germany was exactly what a 20-year-old trying to convince a new manager needed. Instead he will spend Sunday in the gym, hoping the next chance comes a week later at Espanyol.
