Palmeiras 'foresaw' Endrick's struggles at Real Madrid as club president reveals she told Florentino Perez to 'calm down' over Pele comparisons

The Brazilian prodigy officially signed for Real for a reported €47.5m fee last summer but has struggled for playing time, featuring for just 316 minutes and scoring one goal. Pereira insists it was always going to take time for her club's former forward to settle in Spain and warned Real president Perez not to expect too much too quickly.

Endrick was never going to be thrust straight into Real Madrid's first XI after the club also signed French forward Kylian Mbappe last summer, while Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Brahim Diaz and others are also competing for playing time in the attacking areas. The striker did score for Brazil against England at Wembley last March and is still considered one of the country's best prospects.

Pereira told The Athletic: "We foresaw that [Endrick's lack of playing time]. He's very young, a young talent, but it's difficult for a kid to come out of Brazil and adapt immediately. He will have patience because he is very determined, focused. He will shine a lot in Real Madrid."

The Palmeiras president added on her conversation with her Real counterpart: "Florentino Perez told me, 'Leila, I have been informed Endrick is better than Pele'. I told him, 'Calm down, president, as nobody else like Pele has ever been born'."

Pereira has refuted any suggestion that Endrick could return to Brazilian football, with the acclimatisation to Madrid considered to just be taking time. There were rumours linking the 18-year-old with a temporary move to Southampton this month but he seems set to stay in La Liga.