Endrick, a 17-year-old phenom from Palmeiras, will soon be making his way to the Santiago Bernabeu as the most highly-rated prospect in world football. Real Madrid beat several European heavyweights to the punch, namely PSG, as it seems like Endrick only dreamed of a move to Madrid to join the likes of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes, and Jude Bellingham in an exciting young attack.

Although transfer rumors continue to swirl around Kylian Mbappe, Real may decide not to spend on a player who rejected them at the last second in 2022. Endrick is for sure arriving as a significant investment, as Los Blancos could spend 70 million euros on this transfer in total, depending on the achievement of bonuses.

Before Endrick's arrival in the Spanish capital, let's take a look at a possible Real Madrid starting XI that includes the talented Brazilian attacker.

Defense GK Thibaut Courtois

LB Alphonso Davies

CB David Alaba

CB Eder Militao

RB Dani Carvajal

The defense is definitely subject to change in the summer transfer window. Real Madrid generally don't make winter transfers, as acquisitions like Endrick's are generally the main play for the club; they go for future signings rather than immediate shake-ups. But Madrid do need more signings in defense. A long-term right back option would be nice, even with Dani Carvajal's renaissance. Fran Garcia is a talented left back, but Real should go for an upgrade. Alphonso Davies is the dream and a realistic signing if he is indeed ready for a new challenge after Bayern Munich. And in light of Eder Militao's injury, Real's need for another young, talented center back has been exposed.

Real Madrid's back could look like this in the 2024/25 season, as Madridistas won't be happy if there are no changes here. When everyone is at full strength and playing at their best, this isn't a bad defense. The losses of Thibaut Courtois and Militao this season - two of the best at their positions cannot be minimized. Their returns alone will be massive boosts to Madrid, but the schematics of this lineup could look very different - and a lot more defensively stable - with the signing of Davies alone. Tactically, you can see why he would be the main target, as he can support Vini on the left and cover for Alaba defensively with his reading of the game and speed.

Davies is one of the best left backs on the planet and has been at that level for years, ever since Bayern won the treble in the 2019/20 season. He does not always have the most accurate crosses, but even his crosses will be an upgrade on what Madrid had before. The main thing is that he never stops working, he's a great dribbler, he produces a high volume of overlaps, he supports the winger, and he is an elite defensive presence without being inactive offensively. In short, Real need someone who can put in the work and defend. Davies does that better than anyone on either flank.

Midfield CM Jude Bellingham

DM Aurelien Tchouameni

CM Eduardo Camavinga

Juggling the midfield will be more difficult. Real Madrid could feasibly play a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 diamond with Endrick in the fold (more on that later). They usually use a 4-3-3 in Madrid, but, this season, they've transitioned to a diamond so that Jude Bellingham can play in the 10 role to help pick up the goal-scoring slack after Karim Benzema's departure to Al-Ittihad.

Leaving Fede Valverde out of the XI is difficult, but there will be plenty of rotation in midfield and probably some formation changes to that 4-4-2 when it makes sense. But these three midfielders are the main starters and were signed in the last three transfer windows to be the bedrock of the next generation of Real Madrid. Florentino Perez has not forgotten that the foundation of his three-peat dynasty was the legendary midfield trident of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Casemiro.

Bellingham is the best box-to-box midfielder and the best attacking midfielder in the world. Tchouameni is one of the elite defensive midfielders, and his stock is seemingly rising with each passing month. Camavinga is another player whose valuation is skyrocketing as he gets more comfortable in Real Madrid.

If Fede starts, he would likely play on the right side to provide width and Bellingham would be the preferred option on the left side as someone who can cut in and shoot in a freer role, leaving Fran as the aggressive overlapping fullback. Camavinga and Fede could start together on the outside, too, which would give the wingers more room to interchange and float in the center of the pitch behind and around Endrick as an option for the young striker to play one-twos.

Forwards LW Vinicius Junior

ST Endrick

RW Rodrygo Goes

Now the main part of the discussion comes to the attack where Endrick would play. Signing Kylian Mbappe would change things, as the PSG forward would likely play in the middle, even if the left wing is his favored position. That would then transition Endrick to a bench role, where he would be eased into stardom in Madrid, rather than having the responsibilities thrust on him at the age of 18 upon his arrival in 2024/25.

However, Endrick looks so good that he could be ready to get opportunities in the middle. If Real Madrid cannot sign a striker, they could do a time-share between Joselu as the veteran and Endrick as the youngster. Real haven't gotten their main scoring output from the front two, though a recent 5-1 drubbing of Valencia indicates that maybe Rodrygo and Vini Jr. can change that (albeit Vini suffered an injury).

That said, it makes more sense for Real to go for a 4-3-3 with a striker and let Endrick play in his best position. A 4-4-2 with either Mbappe or Endrick joining Vini and Rodrygo in a rotation up top could work, too, and Rodrygo can even split time with Bellingham as the 10. However, crowding out players with just two forwards may not be the best idea, and Real Madrid do lack width in this formation since the midfielders behind them are center midfielders and not wingers (Fede and Camavinga).

It's a lot of responsibility to place on Endrick, but since this post is about speculating where he could be in a starting lineup, it would make the most sense to let him play his best position as an 18-year-old newcomer to the Bernabeu. There are enough unknown variables to the young Brazilian forward, so removing positional role as one of them may be the best bet, though, again, rotating with Vini and Rodrygo in a 4-4-2 is reasonable, too. If Mbappe does not arrive, that possibility increases, because there would be fewer proverbial mouths to feed in a two-striker system.

Former editor of The Real Champs and Old Juve, covering Real Madrid and Juventus

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