Endrick has delivered a passionate defence of Vinicius Jr. after a four-match suspension for the Brazilian winger sparked controversy, insisting that his teammate is being unfairly targeted.
Speaking to Movistar Plus+ after Real Madrid’s dramatic 4-3 Champions League victory over AS Roma, Endrick criticised the punishment handed to Vinicius following his sending-off against Villarreal.
The young forward also reflected on his decisive contribution to the comeback, which saw Madrid recover from 1-3 down to secure victory in the closing stages.
Endrick entered the match in the 59th minute and helped change its direction, setting up Carlos Espí’s goal with a header before scoring the equaliser.
Antonio Rudiger subsequently completed the turnaround, capping a remarkable night for Jose Mourinho’s side.
Endrick claims Vinicius is being targeted
The suspension handed to Vinicius was a major talking point after the match, with Endrick openly questioning the decision and backing his international teammate to respond positively.
“We knew it had to be two matches for a straight red card, but deep down we knew it wouldn’t be two, because what they’re doing to ‘Vini’ is unbelievable, it’s mad, and there’s no way it’s going to change.
“They’ve turned two matches into four; they’re out to get ‘Vini’, but he’s a strong lad, he’s always working hard, fighting against everything.
Endrick has backed Vinicius Jr. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
“He’ll be strong; when he comes back, he’ll come back in great form,” he said.
Endrick explains how he helped Real Madrid beat Roma
While his comments about Vinicius attracted attention, Endrick also played a crucial role in Madrid’s comeback.
Introduced shortly after Roma extended their lead to 3-1, the Brazilian immediately brought energy to the attack and helped the hosts regain momentum.
Reflecting on the emotions surrounding his introduction, Endrick explained how quickly his evening changed.
“I’m still caught up in the excitement of the match. It was a bit tricky – I was on the bench talking to God, and when I looked to one side, Nuno called me over.
“I didn’t think I’d be coming on so early. I came on and was able to do what I love most – play football. I feel I can help everyone, and most importantly, help Madrid win.
“When I’m no longer able to do that, I’ll be the first to leave, because being at Madrid is tough; you have to fight every day,” he explained.
He also recalled the difficult moment when Roma scored again just as he was preparing to enter the contest.
“It was tough, because I was talking to Mou, with my head down, and when we looked up, Mallen was scoring another goal, which made the match even more difficult. But we’re Real Madrid.
“We’re going to fight in every match, and that’s what we’ve done – coming back from 3-1 to 4-3 and continuing to fight – because we’ve still got the Champions League, the Copa del Rey, La Liga and the Super Cup; we want to win them all.”
Endrick sends message about his Real Madrid future
The Brazilian also addressed his limited playing time under Mourinho, acknowledging that individual ambitions must take second place to the team’s needs.
“We don’t know; managers aren’t going to do what’s best for a player, they’re going to do what’s best for the team.
“If I have to play, Mou will put me on. It won’t necessarily be the best thing for me.
“I’ll be fighting to help the team; that’s what I’ll do throughout my entire career,” he concluded.