Real Madrid retains the right to terminate Endrick’s loan to Lyon by January 20th, potentially opening the door for the Brazilian star’s return to the Santiago Bernabéu at any moment next week.
Real Madrid sacked Xabi Alonso, who was unconvinced of Endrick’s abilities, leading to the 19-year-old’s loan move to Lyon at the start of 2026.
With Alonso’s departure and the appointment of Álvaro Arbeloa, Endrick is likely to be back in the new coach’s plans and return to the Spanish capital after just 20 days in Ligue 1.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the most probable outcome is that Real Madrid will not exercise this option, and he will remain at Lyon until the end of the season as originally planned.
This reinforces the fact that Arbeloa is one of Gonzalo García’s biggest supporters, having worked with him in Real Madrid’s youth academy. He is expected to rely on García in the future and will not need to bring Endrick back.
Meanwhile, Endrick is happy in his new environment at Lyon and believes the conditions are perfect for him to shine and, consequently, secure his place in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad.
There is only one scenario that could bring Endrick back to the Santiago Bernabéu: a series of unexpected injuries to the team’s attacking players. In that case, Arbeloa would intervene, speak with the young player, and convince him to return with promises of playing time.
It’s worth noting that Endrick scored his first goal for Lyon in their French Cup Round of 16 match against Lille a few days ago, and Real Madrid’s management has expressed their satisfaction with the player’s remarkable and immediate improvement.
