Real Madrid Debut: Teenage Sensation Endrick Impresses in Loss to AC Milan
Last night, Real Madrid took to the pitch at Chicago’s Soldier Field, looking to make a statement against Italian giants AC Milan. Despite a number of star players being absent, including Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham, the Whites fielded a strong lineup and produced an entertaining friendly match. For the young guns, though, it was a chance to shine – and 18-year-old Brazilian forward Endrick certainly took advantage.
The teenager played the entire first half, during which time he managed a solitary shot on target. While that might not sound impressive, it’s crucial to note that Endrick was being utilized by manager Carlo Ancelotti as part of a larger rotation. "He is someone who has something truly special," Ancelotti gushed about Endrick. "He’s very fast, very dangerous in tight spaces, has the ability to turn with speed in little space, very agile in getting himself free… It’s rare to see a player with these types of characteristics."
[Image: Brazilian prodigy Endrick played 45 minutes in his debut for Real Madrid.]
The match ended 1-0 in favor of Milan, thanks to Samuel Chukwueze’s decisive strike in the 56th minute. The Nigerian winger’s goal capped off an impressive outing for the Rossoneri, who now boast a 2-0 pre-season record. Milan manager Paulo Fonseca was proud of his team’s effort, acknowledging that while there were moments for improvement, "we competed, we fought, we did some good things."
Ancelotti echoed Fonseca’s sentiments, stressing that the first match of the pre-season with a largely youthful lineup was all about competing at a high level. "The important thing was to compete which we did for the whole game," he noted.
For Real Madrid, there’s only one way to go from here: forward. The next step on the US tour is an eagerly anticipated "El Clasico" against Barcelona on Saturday in New Jersey.
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