Real Madrid youngster faces an ‘impossible mission’ to overcome after loan move | OneFootball

After a disastrous first half of the campaign, Endrick has made the decision to leave Real Madrid in favour of a loan move to Lyon.

The move was aimed to give the young Brazilian regular game-time at the highest level of football, and does not necessarily mean the end of his chapter at Real Madrid.

However, Endrick faces an impossible task as very few Real Madrid strikers, who have been loaned out in the past, have been able to return to Santiago Bernabeu to play a crucial role in the first team.

The curse of loaned-out Real Madrid strikers

As reported by MARCA, the cursed trajectory of traditional strikers leaving Los Blancos on loan to prove their worth is well-documented, leaving Endrick to face an ‘impossible mission’ when he returns.

Recent academy graduates like Alvaro Rodriguez, Juanmi Latasa, and Borja Mayoral left in search of minutes, but the door to the first team remained firmly shut upon their potential return.

Big-money signings have fared no better. Luka Jovic, signed for €63 million, was loaned back to Eintracht Frankfurt after a poor start, only to be sold permanently to Fiorentina shortly after.

Strikers who leave Real Madrid on loan rarely find success at Los Blancos. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Similarly, Mariano Diaz, who ironically shone at Lyon, returned to Madrid only to endure five disastrous seasons with just seven goals.

The only modern anomaly is Alvaro Morata. He left for Juventus, returned to play a vital role in the 2016/17 double-winning season under Zidane, but ultimately chose to leave again.

Going further back in time, Others, like Roberto Soldado, Javier Portillo, and the infamous case of Samuel Eto’o, never got a real second chance.

In fact, to find a true success story, one must look back to the 1960s and Ramon Grosso, who saved Atletico Madrid from relegation during a loan spell before becoming a Real Madrid legend.

So, Endrick will have a huge challenge at his hand to earn a place for himself at Real Madrid when he does return from his loan stint at Lyon.