Liverpool are set to miss out on a possible season-long loan deal for Real Madrid forward Endrick after Jose Mourinho decided the 20-year-old should remain in Spain as a first-team option.
Endrick spent the second half of last season on loan at French club Lyon, having found regular playing time difficult to secure at Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.
The Brazil forward impressed during his spell in Ligue 1, scoring eight goals and recording eight assists in 21 appearances across all competitions. He returned to Madrid in June to take part in pre-season preparations.
According to The Times, Liverpool contacted Real Madrid to enquire about Endrick’s availability. However, their approach was rejected by Mourinho, who wants to retain the young forward rather than sanction another temporary move.
Mourinho plans to keep Endrick involved as he manages the workloads of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior at the beginning of the 2026-27 campaign. Liverpool will now have to consider alternative options as they continue their search for attacking reinforcements.
Endrick’s position within the Real Madrid squad has also been strengthened by the club’s decision to allow several other young players to leave on loan this summer.
Gonzalo Garcia is set to join Fulham, while Franco Mastantuono will move to Fiorentina on a temporary basis. Those departures have further increased the likelihood that Endrick will remain close to Mourinho’s first-team plans.
The decision represents a setback for Liverpool, who had explored the possibility of giving Endrick a full season of Premier League football. Instead, Real Madrid have opted to keep control of his development while also using him as cover during a demanding period for their leading forwards.
Endrick’s loan spell with Lyon had appeared to make him an attractive option for clubs seeking a young attacking player capable of contributing immediately. His eight goals and eight assists in 21 matches offered evidence of his impact in France, but Real Madrid’s current squad situation has changed the circumstances around his future.
With Endrick now expected to stay in Madrid, Liverpool’s interest is unlikely to lead to an agreement. Mourinho’s preference is for the forward to remain available to the first team as Real Madrid begin the 2026-27 season.