Brazilian football legends Cafu and Dida have expressed confidence that Real Madrid’s young forward Endrick will flourish under the tutelage of Carlo Ancelotti, Soccernet.football reports.
The 17-year-old has experienced a slow start at the Spanish giants since his €60 million move from Palmeiras in July, scoring only two goals in nine appearances, with just 107 minutes on the pitch across all competitions.
Cafu, a World Cup winner and former Milan star, believes that Ancelotti’s expertise in developing young players is exactly what Endrick needs.
“Ancelotti is a great coach, and he is really good at developing young players,” Cafu said at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, Italy.
“He understands them and knows when it’s the right time for them to play or stay on the bench. For someone like him, he will be like a father who gives the right advice.”
Dida, Cafu’s former teammate at Milan, echoed this view, highlighting Ancelotti’s ability to nurture talent at a top club like Real Madrid.
“We all know Carlo [Ancelotti], he knows how to manage all the champions,” Dida stated. “He knows how to make these kids grow, and that is certainly something very nice for [Endrick]. We hope he does well because he is a Brazilian who will surely do well with the national team.”
Endrick has already made his mark on the international stage, becoming Brazil’s youngest player since Ronaldo Nazario to earn a senior call-up.
He scored twice for the national team, including a memorable goal in a 1-0 win over England at Wembley in March.
Though still developing, Cafu believes Endrick’s future is bright, concluding, “He has enormous potential and can grow a lot. With Ancelotti as a manager, I’m sure he can become a top player.”