Endrick's agent: the decision on Endrick’s future has already been made clear

Endrick’s sending-off last Saturday at Nantes has sparked anger inside Lyon, where club officials believe the straight red card shown in the second half at Stade de la Beaujoire was unjust. 

Lyon insists the treatment of the Brazilian forward, on loan from Real Madrid, has been inconsistent compared to that of his opponents, who have stepped up their physical attention on a player who arrived in French football in January carrying the label of a breakout star.

Refereeing decisions under scrutiny in France

French media closely analyzed referee Vernice’s handling of fouls during Nantes vs. Lyon while Endrick was on the field. L’Équipe, for example, criticized the decision not to book Nantes forward Mostafa Mohamed Abline for a heavy early challenge on the Brazilian. Endrick, by contrast, was booked for the first foul he committed just two minutes later.

Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca also raised concerns about how referees in France are officiating matches involving Endrick.

“There is a very clear foul by the Nantes player, who intends to block Endrick,” Fonseca said. “This is the third match where opponents have shown a lot of aggression toward him. It is really a form of intimidation against a young player. Referees must protect a talent like this.”

The Portuguese coach is calling for greater protection for “Bobby,” who will almost certainly miss Saturday’s match against Nice due to suspension.

Nantes push back against ‘Anti-Endrick’ claims

Fonseca’s comments stood in sharp contrast to those made by Nantes coach Antoine Kombouaré, who defended his team and dismissed any suggestion of an “Anti-Endrick Plan.”

“Endrick is not protected enough? When it’s my player who ends up injured?” Kombouaré said. “I would have preferred my player not to be injured and to suffer small fouls instead of the opposite.”

Suspension looming as league reviews incident

Endrick is facing a potential one-match suspension, which could be extended to two matches, with the second suspended and dependent on a future dismissal. A decision is expected Wednesday from the LFP Disciplinary Committee, which will rule on the straight red card shown in Nantes.

Under LFP regulations, this type of offense is usually punished with a one-game ban, though it can be increased to two if the committee determines the challenge on Tabibou carried additional severity.

In the 52nd minute, the Palmeiras academy product was tightly marked by a Nantes center back and reacted instinctively by leaving his leg trailing into the defender’s heel. Referee Vernice initially showed a red card to Ainsley Maitland-Niles by mistake. VAR alerted the referee that the caution should have been shown to Endrick, who had already been booked. The referee reversed his decision and upgraded the second yellow to a straight red, stunning both the player and the Lyon bench.

Numbers show heavy contact, few cards

Since arriving in France, Endrick ranks 17th in Ligue 1 for fouls suffered, with seven in four matches. He is 41st in yellow cards drawn, with one in four matches, and tied for 10th in red cards received, alongside players such as Achraf Hakimi. His average of 1.84 fouls suffered per game does not place him inside the league’s top 20, a list led at No. 20 by PSG’s Désiré Doué at 1.9 fouls per match.

Despite last week’s sending-off, Endrick has recorded six goal contributions in six appearances, making him the most productive player in French soccer since the start of the calendar year.

That fouls-per-game figure also highlights how rarely defenders are booked for challenges against him. Endrick has drawn just one yellow card from opponents in four Ligue 1 matches, a statistic Lyon believes reflects excessive leniency from referees. The club compares the situation to what Neymar experienced during his seven seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, when he repeatedly complained about the physical treatment he received. Lyon plans to formally request explanations from the LFP, hoping for a dramatic shift in how the club’s most valuable asset is protected.

“Endrick will return to Real Madrid in June”

Thiago Freitas, Endrick’s agent, spoke on the Win Win channel about the young forward’s situation and adaptation.

“Endrick had absolutely no problem adapting,” Freitas said. “He scored in his first Champions League match, his first LaLiga match, and his first Copa del Rey match.”

Why did Endrick leave Real Madrid?

“Endrick has only played a few minutes at Real Madrid because, when he arrived at the club, and if you look at the attacking players there, you will find that eight of the 10 best players in the world are at Real Madrid. Vinícius Júnior, winner of FIFA’s The Best award. Mbappé, an incredible and exceptional player. Jude Bellingham, a great player who is capable of winning the award for the best player in the world. Rodrygo, a player who decides many important Champions League matches.

“It is completely normal for a young 18-year-old player to arrive at a club like this and have limited minutes.

“It is also important to mention that Endrick did not start the season with the rest of the players. He did not travel to the United States for the Club World Cup and he was injured. At a club like Real Madrid, when you are out of the team for three or four months, it is very normal to have difficulty playing again.”

What happens to Endrick after his loan at Lyon ends?

“Endrick was loaned to Lyon for six months. The decision has already been made and Endrick will return to Real Madrid at the end of the season. There is no ambiguity and no secret about this.”

“The agreement is only a loan, with no option to buy, so Endrick will return. What will happen next season? I cannot predict that, but I can tell you that at the end of this season Endrick will once again be a Real Madrid player.”

Did Carlo Ancelotti speak with him about possibly moving again to get more playing time before the World Cup?

“Yes, Endrick spoke with Ancelotti and, of course, he also spoke with Xabi Alonso about this subject. He is a young player, and both of them are very experienced coaches, great winners as players and as coaches, so any advice coming from them has enormous value.”

Has he also received advice from players like Vinícius Júnior or Rodrygo?

“Yes, Endrick is friends with them and, of course, he speaks with them daily. He also has other friends on the Brazilian national team, like Lucas and Bruno, who play at Lyon. He spoke with them about the club, the fans, and the city, and they help him a lot.”

Does the fact that Real Madrid have the best striker in the world in Kylian Mbappé influence Endrick’s future plans?

“I cannot predict that. I do not know. Endrick always thinks with a football mindset. The next match, and then the next, always the next match.

“We cannot anticipate what will happen at Real Madrid next season. I do not know who the coach will be. I cannot say anything about the rest of the players. I do not know if they will stay at the club or not.

“Talking now about next season is a waste of time because there are still three months left in the current season.”

Do you expect players from your agency to be playing there next season?

“Yes, definitely. We are always open to listening and negotiating with any party that wants to work in a professional way and at a high level.

“That is exactly what is happening right now in Saudi Arabia. There is work being done correctly, with real investment in infrastructure, human resources, and knowledge, not just in player salaries.”