Brazil manager confirms Endrick will start in Copa America clash against Uruguay

Endrick will start for the first time with Brazil in the Copa América quarterfinals.

Coach Dorival Junior announced this Friday that young Endrick will start for Brazil for the first time, in the quarterfinal game of the Copa América against Uruguay.

The 17-year-old pearl, who will soon join Real Madrid, will be the substitute for the suspended Vinicius Jr in the 'Seleçao' attack on Saturday in Las Vegas (United States).

The offensive trio will be "Raphinha, Endrick and Rodrygo," Dorival Junior declared at a press conference at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

"We lost a very important player, of course, but we gained a player who is emerging, looking for an opportunity. Maybe this is Endrick's moment," he said.

Endrick has played nine games with the 'canarinha' shirt, all of them as a substitute, and scored three goals.

"We said that we did not want to rush with Endrick and that at the right time he would be given the opportunity," Dorival stressed.

At 17 years and 11 months, the forward from Palmeiras is the second youngest player in this edition of the Copa América behind the Ecuadorian Kendry Páez, who is 17 years and one month old.

The striker who emerged from Palmeiras, whose services Madrid secured at the end of 2022 for around $75 million, was a dazzling appearance for the 'Seleção', scoring in three consecutive friendly matches.

Two of those goals gave Brazil victory against England (1-0) and Mexico (3-2) and another was achieved in a draw against Spain (3-3).

"Only God and Professor Dorival know," Endrick said before the tournament about his long-awaited first start. "I keep working, waiting. Nobody needs to skip stages."

In the Copa América, Endrick only appeared in the final stretch of the three matches of the first phase, in which Brazil finished in second place in Group D with five points.

Rodrygo started in all three games while Raphinha started the second match from the bench, against Paraguay, replaced by the young Savinho.

- "They leave us for dead" -

Dorival also announced that he will make a second change to the starting lineup on Saturday, replacing Wendell with Guilherme Arana at left back.

Regarding Uruguay, leader of Group C with a full nine points, Dorival said that "they are a team that deserves all our respect."

"This could be a semifinal or the final of the Cup," he stressed. "We are rivals who know each other, respect each other and it will be a great match."

Sitting next to him, Raphinha claimed the hierarchy of the Brazilian team despite the bad moment of results it is going through and the sensitive absence on Saturday of its star, Vinicius Jr.

"Many journalists consider us dead, they say that Uruguay will pass easily but surely from Uruguay's side, they don't think that way," he stated. "They know the potential we have, what we work for and that anything can happen."