Arsenal’s Gabriel bodychecks £51m Brazil new boy Endrick in training ahead of his debut… showing the 17-year-old the toughness he’ll need when he joins Real Madrid next summer
- Gabriel spared no special treatment for Brazilian wonderkid Endrick in training
- Endrick is one of Brazil’s brightest prospects and could play against Argentina
- It’s a three-team title race… Toney could lead Arsenal to glory: It’s All Kicking Off
Brazilian wonderkid Endrick had a baptism of fire at one of his first international training sessions – as he was bundled over by Arsenal centre-back Gabriel.
The 17-year-old forward will be Brazilian football’s latest prodigy to be exported next summer when he links up with Real Madrid.
Los Blancos confirmed the signing of the Palmeiras forward for around £51million in December but he can only move to Europe when he is 18.
And Gabriel gave him a taste of the physical challenge to expect when he bowled over the youngster at training.
Endrick managed one touch after receiving a pass around the halfway line before the defender barged into him and sent him sprawling onto the turf.
Brazil wonderkid Endrick, who will join Real Madrid in the summer, was barged over by Gabriel
The 17-year-old Palmeiras forward has scored 15 goals in 56 outings in his career up to now
Gabriel is one of the Premier League’s top defenders and gave Endrick a taste of the challenges to come in Europe
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It was a tough introduction for the prospect who has managed 15 goals in 56 outings for Palmeiras, pricking up the antennae of the world’s best clubs.
Real Madrid reportedly had to vow not to pursue Erling Haaland to convince Endrick that he would have a pathway to first-team football.
That’s because Endrick’s camp wanted him to have a ‘clear path for the future’, with him being hailed in Brazil as a generational talent.
If he appears in their match against Argentina on November 22, which head coach Fernando Diniz hinted he will, he will become the fourth-youngest player to feature for the country.
Only Pele, Edu, and Coutinho – not the ex-Liverpool one – played for them at a younger age.
Brazil head coach Fernando Diniz said that Endrick could become ‘one of the great talents’
On his call-up for the World Cup qualifier, Diniz said: ‘He is a player who has the potential to be one of the great talents. We don’t know if it [talent] will be confirmed. It’s not pressure.
‘It’s a reward and a future vision of what this kid can be. A boy born in 2006 producing what he produces catches my attention. And right now he is experiencing his best moment, playing against great teams in Brazil and managing to stand out.’
Brazil have seven points after their four qualifying games and while they will comfortably make the 2026 World Cup, interim head coach Diniz – who also manages Fluminense – is under pressure to impose a clear play style.
The latest squad is packed with attacking talent such as Gabriel Jesus and Vinicus Jr, though Neymar is out with a torn anterior cruciate ligament after coming off in tears against Uruguay in October.
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