Real Madrid beat Premier League giants Chelsea to the signing of Brazilian wonderkid Endrick, his agent has confirmed.

Endrick will join Real Madrid from Palmeiras in July in a £51m deal, which was first announced back in December 2022.

The agent has revealed clubs became interested in signing the Brazilian forward after he shone as Brazil Under-17s won the 2022 Montaigu Tournament.The teenager finished as top scorer with five goals in four games and was named as player of the tournament.

“I think the first time we saw Endrick was playing in an Under-13 tournament for Palmeiras,” Endrick’s agent Frederico Pena told the Telegraph.

“It was clear, even on videos, that he was a once-in-a-generation kind of talent.

“He is a player who can play in four World Cups or even more, who can win the Ballon d’Or, that’s the type of talent he is and there are not many players like that.

“That (the Montaigu Tournament) was when the world really sat up and took notice. People in football already knew about him, but that’s when all of the top clubs came in – Manchester City, Liverpool, Paris St-Germain, Chelsea and, of course, Real Madrid.

“All his father wanted for him was to be a footballer and to play for Real Madrid, so that was huge for him.”

“I think Real decided that they were never going to miss another talent like Vini or Endrick after Neymar moved to Barcelona,” added Pena. “Maybe there is a lesson for Chelsea because they were in front at the start.

“The boy’s parents visited Cobham and were impressed, but Chelsea were worried about the fee and then when Real came in and were prepared to pay what Palmeiras wanted, it became almost impossible for them.”

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