“A bit like when I met Hazard” - Real Madrid star on why ‘nervous’ Endrick reminds him of Eden Hazard
Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has stated that his new teammate Endrick reminds him of Eden Hazard. The Belgian has also observed that the young Brazilian seems a bit nervous but remains confident that he will improve.
Endrick, who joined Real Madrid from Palmeiras this season, has already played in two friendlies against AC Milan and Barcelona. Although he has shown glimpses of his potential, he is yet to score, with Real Madrid suffering defeats in both matches.
Courtois noted that Endrick’s strength and physicality are reminiscent of Hazard’s, especially during his time at Chelsea. The goalkeeper, who played for the Blues from 2014 to 2018, has witnessed Hazard’s excellence at both the club and international level, with the two having played together in over 200 matches.
“Endrick? He isn’t very tall, but he has really strong legs, a bit like when I met Hazard at Chelsea who wasn’t tall and had strong legs. You can kick them and they’ll stand up. He has great power. He seems a bit nervous. But he will get better and better," Courtois said (via MadridXtra).
Courtois joined Real Madrid in 2018, with Hazard arriving the following season. However, the iconic winger struggled to replicate his previous form in Madrid, as he was hindered by injuries.
In contrast, Endrick joins Madrid at just 18 years old, and consequently, there is plenty of time for development to showcase his potential to the world.
Endrick names Real Madrid players he plans to seek advice from
There has been considerable excitement surrounding Endrick’s potential impact at Real Madrid, and after just two matches, he has already received praise from Carlo Ancelotti and several of his teammates for his quality.
For the Brazilian, this is truly a dream come true, as he has expressed multiple times. Following his debut against AC Milan, he revealed his intention to keep the iconic white jersey he wore for that match.
"I am very happy for everything that is happening to me. During the debut I remembered my parents and my girlfriend, who were in the stadium. I have no words, this is what I wanted. In my house I have a game room and I’m going to keep this shirt," Endrick said (via Forbes).
Furthermore, Endrick also stated his excitement about playing alongside Real Madrid’s superstars, specifically mentioning Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, and Federico Valverde as players he looks forward to learning from.
"They are incredible players and when I return to Madrid I will play with Fede [Valverde], [Jude] Bellingham, [Kylian] Mbappe," he added.
Following two defeats, Endrick’s Real Madrid will play their final pre-season match against Chelsea on August 6, before facing Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup on August 14.