Manchester United have a special place in Endrick’s heart, and the Brazilian forward has finally gone public about it. Speaking to FourFourTwo, the 18-year-old Real Madrid forward, currently out on loan at Lyon, confirmed that several Premier League teams tried to sign him in January 2025 before he settled on the French side.
His love for United is tied directly to Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese legend’s iconic six-year run at Old Trafford between 2003 and 2009 essentially set the standard that Endrick wants to follow throughout his own career.
“I’ve followed Ronaldo’s career at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and now Al-Nassr. It doesn’t matter where he is, I’ll always follow him,” Endrick told FourFourTwo when discussing his development.
Endrick isn’t just paying lip service here. He told the magazine that he tracks Ronaldo wherever he goes, from Manchester United and Real Madrid to Juventus and his current stint at Al-Nassr.
That kind of loyalty shows just how much Ronaldo’s time at United influenced the teenager’s idea of what a top-tier forward should be. Endrick bagged 16 goals in his final season at Palmeiras before heading to Madrid, and he’s shown that same drive at Lyon while finding his feet in European football during the 2024–25 campaign.
He named faith and family as his reasons for rejecting the Premier League
When asked about the interest from England back in January, Endrick was surprisingly open. He confirmed that teams from England, Italy, and Germany all came knocking before he chose Lyon. He explained that the move really came down to his faith and his wife’s input, with both pointing him toward France.
He spoke about following God’s lead and said he trusted his wife’s gut feeling as much as his own. He even described the moment Lyon’s name came up as a clear sign for both of them. While he didn’t name-drop any specific English teams, his tone made it pretty obvious that United were in the mix.
“Yes, there was interest from English clubs, and from Italy and Germany too,” he said. “Some very good clubs showed interest, but it’s not necessary to mention names. I thank them for their interest. I have God in my life, and when I heard about the interested English clubs, I didn’t hear God telling me it was the destination at that moment, and neither did my wife. When you get married, you know who’s really in charge! [Laughs] So it’s important to listen to her opinion. But when the name Lyon appeared, both my wife and I felt the touch of God. If one day I go to the Premier League, then it will not only be my decision, it will be something God places in my path.”
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Could Manchester United pursue Endrick when his Lyon loan ends?
This is where things get interesting, and from United’s side, the answer is a bit of a double-edged sword. United are crying out for a striker who possesses raw athleticism with a real desire to improve, especially since Rasmus Højlund, a £72 million signing in 2023, has only managed 16 Premier League goals across two seasons.
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Endrick is still just 18 and tied to Real Madrid until 2030, so he isn’t going to be up for grabs anytime soon. However, if Madrid decides to sell him or send him on another loan after Lyon, United needs to make sure they are the club his faith and footballing idols lead him toward. Whether it was intentional or not, the door is already ajar.
Manchester United shouldn’t just take Endrick’s comments as a compliment; they should see them as a massive opportunity.
