Brazilian wonderkid Endrick names the Real Madrid legend whose number he wants to inherit… as the 17-year-old admits his No 9 shirt at Palmeiras ‘comes with a lot of responsibility’

Brazilian rising star Endrick has named the Real Madrid legend he wants to emulate when he moves to the club this summer.

The 17-year-old has already started to follow in the footsteps of his future team-mate Jude Bellingham by recently copying the England star’s celebration and has given more insight into his plans in Madrid.

Endrick will join a growing list of Brazilian stars at the club when he leaves South America for Spain, with Vinicius Jnr and Rodrygo already first-team stars in Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Madrid beat Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain to the youngster’s signature as they completed a deal with Palmeiras believed to be worth £62 million, including more than £10 million in taxes yet to be added.

He has remained with the Brazil squad since the deal was completed in December 2022 due to rules regarding the transfer of players under the age of 18, but will move to the club in the summer.

Endrick will move to Madrid this summer once he turns 18, after a deal was completed just over a year ago

Endrick wants to wear the Madrid seventh shirt previously worn by Cristiano Ronaldo

One decision that has yet to be made is the shirt number that Endrick will adopt and the future star has stated that he wants to take over Madrid’s legendary number 7 shirt, most commonly worn in recent times by Cristiano Ronaldo.

But fellow Brazilian star Vinicius Jnr is currently wearing the iconic figure since signing a new contract with the club, and is unlikely to give it up anytime soon.

Speaking to Placar TV, Endrick said: ‘I’m not too worried about the numbers, but my favorite is number seven. That’s what I use in video games when I play NBA and FIFA.

Ronaldo is one of the iconic players to wear Madrid’s legendary number seven shirt during his time at the club

Another option for Endrick could be to take the number nine top previously worn by Brazilian Ronaldo

‘It’s a number that attracts a lot of attention for me because Cristiano (Ronaldo) was seven and I also really like (NBA star) Luka Doncic, a man who wears 77, a high number. It’s a number that I look at and notice.

‘I really like it, but I don’t know. I’ve played with eleven, with ten, with seven… now I’m the nine at Palmeiras.

Another option could be for Endrick to take the number 9 shirt, but he also admitted that there is also pressure on that now that Brazil and Madrid legend Ronaldo will wear the shirt once.

“It is also a great number, but it always comes with great responsibility,” he added.