Endrick’s Comeback: Real Madrid Starlet Set for Champions League Return

Real Madrid are ready to open the door for Endrick’s official comeback – even if it’s only a crack.

The Brazilian forward, sidelined since his injury in Budapest, could finally step back onto the pitch on Tuesday (8) when Real Madrid host Inter Milan at 4 p.m. in the 2026/27 Champions League. After months of waiting, the return is likely to be short, sharp and heavily managed.

José Mourinho made that crystal clear.

“He may be ready to play 5 minutes, 10 at most. He trained with the team for the first time yesterday and hasn't played since Budapest. He isn't fit for more (minutes),” the Real Madrid coach said, underlining both the caution and the curiosity surrounding the 20-year-old’s status.

The message is simple: this is about reintroducing, not relying.

Mourinho’s irony and Endrick’s role

Asked where Endrick might fit into a squad already stacked with attacking talent, Mourinho couldn’t resist a touch of irony.

“He will play in attack. I guarantee he won't play at left-back or center-back. (He can play) on the right or the left, (as a) 9 or 10.”

The joke carried a serious undertone. Mourinho sees Endrick strictly as an offensive weapon, one more option in a frontline that already reads like a fantasy football team.

In recent matches, Real Madrid have lined up with Jude Bellingham, Arda Güler, Vini Jr, and Kylian Mbappé in attack. It is a quartet brimming with movement, flair and goals. Breaking into that group is no small task, especially for a player just back from injury.

Yet even 5 or 10 minutes in a Champions League tie against Inter Milan could mark a turning point for Endrick – a symbolic restart in a season where every appearance, every touch, will be judged against the enormous expectations that followed him to Madrid.