At just 17 years old, Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa, or simply “Endrick”, has dazzled all football fans. In Brazil they talk about the greatest appearance since Neymar. So much so that, at just 11 years old, all the clubs in the country of Rio were looking for him. And at the age of 16, Real Madrid paid him 60 million euros (with bonuses that extend that price until he was 72) and left him in Palmeiras until he came of age.
However, there are questions of reason that the heart does not understand and the São Paulo jewel had to write an emotional letter to her little brother Noah, to explain why they should leave the country to settle in Spain.
“Dear Noah, I don’t know when you will read this letter, but you are four years old, and our lives are changing very quickly. In the next few months, I will go to Spain to play for Real Madrid. Yes, the team I always choose in the Play when you see me play,” the story begins. Endrick will take his family to Madrid when he joins the team of his dreams, the White House, in June. This letter is to tell his brother the reason why they will leave Brazil and move to the old continent. In addition, the Palmeiras winger told the story of his family to the youngest.
“Mom says that when I was a baby I just wanted: Ball, ball, ball. You can ask mom how I used to introduce myself to people…And what’s your name? Boy, Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa, FORWARD.” The player continues in the story, alluding to the fact that since he was a child he wanted to be a soccer player and that everything began and ended with the ball.
“I still remember that day when I saw Dad cry. I was 10 years old, and I think it was the first time I understood that our situation was difficult. Dad says I sat on the couch and told him: Don’t worry. I’m going to be a footballer, and I’m going to get a better life for us,” the emotional story continues.
Endrick was about to sign for Sao Pablo FC, but ended up signing for Palmeiras at the age of 11, the team where he currently plays. In five years he scored 165 goals in 169 games with Palmeiras’ youth teams, attracting the attention of European clubs. In December 2022, at the age of 16, he signed with Real Madrid in exchange for 70 million euros. That same year he would make his debut in Verdão’s first division and currently has 18 goals with the first team.
Internationally, the 17-year-old made his debut in the youth team of the Brazilian National Team in March 2022, being part of the under-17 team. In the Canarinha senior team he debuted last November 2023 and has played, so far, three games and scored a goal.
“When I was 15 years old and became a professional with Palmeiras, from the conversation I had that day on the couch with dad, I knew that I had achieved my first goal: to help my family have a better life. In a few months, “I’m going to go live in Spain, and you’ll come with me. Real Madrid… that was my second goal, the one I never dared to write down,” said the future Madrid forward.
“For three generations our family has pursued the dream of soccer. But now you can do whatever you want. You can be a doctor, a lawyer. You already chase the ball, just like me. So you can be a soccer player if you want,” says the Brazilian gem emphasizing that the footballer’s dream came true for him and that his brother can be whatever he wants to be. “I love you, brother. From the bottom of my heart, Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa, FORWARD,” closes the emotional letter from him, the young winger.
“Dear Noah,
I don’t know when you will read this letter, but you are four years old, and our lives are changing very quickly. In the next few months, I will go to Spain to play for Real Madrid. Yes, the team I always choose in Play when you see me play.
This is my opportunity to tell you our story: As you know, in our family everything begins and ends with a ball. Mom says that when I was a baby I just wanted, “Ball, ball, ball.”
You can ask mom how I used to introduce myself to people…’And what’s your name, boy.’ Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa, FORWARD.
Back then we lived in a place called Vila Guaíra, and our life was very different from now. Our street was on this hill. We used to play soccer there with the neighborhood kids, and part of the reason we got so good was that the ball always fell downhill, and whoever missed the goal had to go look for it in the favela below. . You fail, you run.
I still remember that day when I saw dad cry. I was 10 years old, and I think it was the first time I understood that our situation was difficult. Dad says I sat on the couch and said, ‘Don’t worry. I’m going to be a footballer, and I’m going to get a better life for us.’
Before that day, I was just a kid, and football was just a game. But after that day, football became our path to a better life.
A few weeks later, I left for São Paulo to play for Palmeiras, and I set my first goal: to improve the situation for our family.
It wasn’t easy for mom, she left everything behind. The club only had room for me, but she said there was no way I was leaving without her. Dad stayed so he could work, and she moved with me to a small house, where we lived together with some of my teammates. All under one roof.
She had no one to talk to. So she used to take the Bible to the park and she would sit and talk to God by herself. At home she only had one chair. She would leave her bag on top of her and sleep on a small mattress on the floor. The next time you see her, give her a hug and thank you, because without her sacrifices we would not have the life we ??have today.
I was born in a paradise compared to dad. When he was 15, dad left home, hitchhiking from Brasilia to São Paulo. Half of the journey was done walking along the route. He only brought a pair of boots, two bottles and a couple of bread baguettes. His plan was to try out with all the important clubs in the city. It took him a whole week to arrive.
When I was 15 years old and became a professional with Palmeiras, from the conversation I had that day on the couch with dad, I knew that I had achieved my first goal: to help my family have a better life.
In a few months, I’m going to go live in Spain, and you will come with me. Real Madrid… that was my second goal, the one I never dared to write. And actually I have another goal, that goal is for you to be able to live the life you want, whatever it may be.
For three generations our family has pursued the dream of soccer. But now you can do what you want. You can be a doctor, a lawyer. You’re already chasing the ball, just like me. So you can be a footballer if you want.
But you don’t have to be. There is no more pressure, thanks to God, thanks to mom and dad, and thanks to football. Dedicate yourself to enjoying your life however you want, brother. This is my gift to you.
I love you brother. From the bottom of my heart, Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa, FORWARD”.
