Endrick set to stay at Real Madrid rather than pursue another loan after strong Lyon spell

A few months ago, Endrick was packing his bags for Lyon with little certainty about his future. Now, with preseason already underway, the picture looks different: everything points to the Brazilian forward staying at Real Madrid next season instead of seeking another loan move.

The numbers back up that idea. During his loan spell at Olympique Lyon, Endrick racked up 8 goals and 9 assists in 21 games last season, a stretch that caught the eye of several European clubs on the current transfer market. Still, according to ESPN Brazil, there are weighty reasons, both personal and football related, tipping the scales toward staying in Madrid.

On the personal side, one factor outweighs any contract clause: Endrick is expecting the birth of his first child in October. Moving to a new country at that moment isn't part of the forward's plans, and that shapes any conversation about a departure, even a temporary one.

On the club's side, Gonzalo Garcia's move to Fulham has opened up a spot up front that Jose Mourinho would reportedly be willing to fill with Endrick. The arrival of Carlos Espi within the club's structure, meanwhile, is not said to have any bearing on this decision, based on the information gathered.

The door to a new loan isn't shut

So does that mean a new loan is completely off the table? Not exactly. ESPN has learned that option remains open, though as a backup plan. Should it happen, the player's priority would be a move to the Premier League, a competition that would let him keep developing in a demanding environment.

If Real Madrid ultimately agrees to loan him out again, the club would look to protect the deal with a buy option or, at the very least, by retaining a percentage of the player's economic rights. None of that has been settled yet, and Endrick's future remains a work in progress.

What is clear is that the forward has already flashed his potential in preseason, scoring in the 2-2 draw against Fiorentina as he builds up minutes ahead of the official start of the season. Performances like that don't go unnoticed, which is why it's no surprise that clubs like Roma and Aston Villa are keeping close tabs on his situation, though neither has made a concrete offer so far.

For now, all signs point to Endrick starting the season in Real Madrid white. What happens after his child is born, and how his role develops under Mourinho, will be decisive in determining whether a loan move ends up being nothing more than an idea left on the table or a real option come January.