'I like playing in the rain!' - Real Madrid-bound Endrick admits he was 'very interested' in Chelsea transfer

The highly coveted Brazilian forward is set to join Real Madrid once he turns 18 in the summer, once all FIFA regulations are passed. He was scouted by several European giants including Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Chelsea, and the lure of playing in the Premier League almost led him to sign for the Blues. Moreover, the persistent links with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to Los Blancos also forced him to think twice before agreeing to sign on the dotted line.

Speaking to The Athletic, he said: "At one point, there was a lot of talk about Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe for Madrid and that was when there was strong interest from Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

“Of course, they are big and important teams. I am very interested in them and they would be excellent options. I was attracted by the Premier League, the city of London and the fact that English is the economically dominant language in the world. And obviously Chelsea is a strong brand that has won two Champions Leagues.

“I was told that it rains a lot in London, but that wouldn’t be a problem because, as my father used to say, I always liked playing in the rain. But I always made it clear to my agent that my dream was Real Madrid.”

Chelsea left no stone unturned when trying to sign Endrick and invited the youngster to have a look at the club's facilities. Endrick even went on to watch a London derby between the Blues and Arsenal but the Premier League outfit backed out of the deal in the 11th hour because they were not convinced to match Palmeiras' lofty £51 million ($64m) valuation. This allowed Real Madrid to swoop in for the player as they agreed to pay his €60 million (£52m/$64m) release clause.

Endrick ended the Brazilian Serie A campaign in stellar form and played an instrumental role in firing his side to the titleearlier in December. He netted 14 goals in 31 games for Palmeiras in 2023 and boasts of winning the Supercopa do Brasil and the Campeonato Paulista this year.

Endrick is currently enjoying a break from football and will travel to Madrid next summer, when he will be officially registered with La Liga for the 2024-25 season. He recently visited the Spanish capital and caught up with his future teammates and manager Carlo Ancelotti at the Valdebebas.