The biggest revelation in Brazilian football in recent times, striker Endrick, 16, was announced this Thursday (15) as a signing for Real Madrid (ESP) from June 2024, when he turns 18. In the announcement, the president of Palmeiras, Leila Pereira, claimed to have completed “the biggest negotiation in the history of Brazilian football”, but that is not the case.
The total value of the transaction could reach 72 million euros (R$ 407.7 million at the current exchange rate), according to what is speculated, which puts him behind Neymar on the list of biggest negotiations in national football.
In 2013, the Santos star was sold to Barcelona for 88.4 million euros (R$ 322 million at the time), which would give R$ 692.5 million in updated value, an amount that will hardly be repeated.
Neymar’s negotiation, however, is full of conflicting information (read more below).
According to the Spanish newspaper Marca, Endrick’s total value could reach 72 million euros with 12 million euros in taxes (to be paid in full by the merengue club). Of the remaining 60 million euros, 35 million (R$ 199 million) are guaranteed. The remaining 25 million euros (R$ 142 million) are the variable portion relating to goals to be achieved by the player – these were not disclosed.
This type of transaction is common in current football, especially when it involves young players, who still need to show what they can deliver. If they exceed the stipulated goals, the purchasing club pays the respective agreed amounts. Otherwise, the debt gets smaller.
First on the list of most expensive, Neymar had a controversial transaction. At the beginning, Barcelona had announced the signing at 57.1 million euros (40 million for the family and 17.1 for Santos). Of that club’s value, 6.8 million went to DIS, a fund that held the striker’s economic rights at the time of the transfer.
However, DIS went to court claiming that the contract had been defrauded so that it would receive less. According to the company, the Catalan team, Neymar and later Santos hid, through various camouflaged contracts, around 35 million euros.
Spanish justice then identified the irregularities and estimated that the value would reach at least 83 million euros. The Catalan club, in turn, acknowledged having paid the 88.4 million euros.
After almost a decade of the imbroglio, Barcelona and the number 10 of the selection reached an agreement “in an amicable way” last year, to end all pending processes. And, last Tuesday (13), Spanish justice acquitted Neymar and the rest of those prosecuted, bringing the action to an end.
Following the list of biggest transactions in Brazilian football is the sale of striker Denilson by São Paulo to Real Betis (ESP), in 1998. For a long time, it was the most expensive in national football: US$ 31.5 million ( BRL 115 million at the time). The amount updated by inflation in dollars still places it in third place on the list: R$ 305.9 million.
After Denilson, come Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, both signed by Real Madrid in 2017 and 2018, respectively, for 45 million euros each. In updated values, Vini would cost BRL 299 million, and Rodrygo, BRL 293.8 million.
Endrick was in the sights of some of the main European clubs, such as the Spanish Barcelona, ​​the French PSG, the Italian Juventus and the English Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea. However, he opted for the champions of the Champions League, which features Brazilians Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Eder Militão.
In Spain, the sports press and fans are already glimpsing the future merengue attack formed by Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior and Endrick, especially after the departure of French striker Karim Benzema, who has a contract with Real until June 2023. Brazilian trident succeeds, the club has Vini and Rodrygo working together to make Endrick feel at home.
The first name of Meringue interest was the Norwegian striker Haaland, but he preferred to transfer to Manchester City-ING, with which he signed a contract until June 2027. Thus, the club of president Florentino Pérez decided to bet on Endrick.
“I thank Palmeiras, the greatest champion of Brazil, champion of America, champion of the world and, forever, the club of my heart, for offering me everything necessary to become what I am today, for helping me to accomplish many of the my dreams and for respecting my desire and that of my family to make another dream come true”, said Endrick in a text released by Alviverde.
This year, the striker born in Brasilia became the only player in the history of Palmeiras to win titles in all categories he competed in, under-11, under-13, under-15, under-17, under-20 and Copa São Paulo de Futebol Junior 2022, in addition to the Brasileirão with the main cast.
In this last competition, he played seven games and scored three goals, winning the championship revelation award.
Last April, he was called up by the Brazilian under-17 team for four friendlies and did his part, scoring five goals and providing an assist. And at the beginning of December, even at the age of 16, he was called by coach Ramon Menezes to compete in the U-20 South American Championship, from January 19th to February 12th in Colombia.
However, Palmeiras must ask for his release, as he is already part of the main squad that will compete in the Campeonato Paulista, from January 15, and the Supercopa do Brasil against Flamengo, on a date yet to be defined.
The success of Endrick’s negotiation will cause Palmeiras’ budget to have a big increase before the new season. As of the October balance sheet, the club already had a surplus of around R$ 20 million, accumulated by the prizes received and the profit from the sale of players. With Endrick’s BRL 199 million that will enter the account, Alviverde will start 2023 swimming in cash.
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