Sad End for Real Madrid's Promising Star: Departure and a Bizarre Clause

French and Spanish press reports revealed details of the final agreement between Real Madrid and Olympique Lyonnais regarding the transfer of young Brazilian striker Endrick Felipe to the French club on a loan deal during the upcoming winter transfer window, amid his exclusion from Coach Xabi Alonso's tactical plans.

Loan Details and the Unusual Condition

• Forced Exit: Endrick (18) joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 with great fanfare but suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for five months. Upon his return, he only played for 11 minutes, despite his earlier insistence on staying.

• Mandatory Playing Clause: The biggest surprise lies in an unprecedented condition set by Real Madrid in the loan contract: Lyon is obliged to field Endrick in at least 25 matches (including the Europa League and the French Cup).

• Financial Penalty: If Lyon fails to comply with this condition, the French club will have to pay a financial fine as a penalty clause.

• Other Conditions: Real Madrid agreed to cover a portion of the player's salary. The Spanish club is also pushing to add a clause allowing them to immediately recall the player if he sustains a serious injury before the end of January 2026.

Ancelotti’s Role in Guiding the Player

Former Real Madrid coach and current Brazil national team manager, Carlo Ancelotti, played an important role in shaping Endrick’s future, publicly stating that the player needs to play regularly to keep his chances of returning to the "Seleção" squad, advising him to seek the "best option for his career."

With Chelsea's interest cooling off, the loan to Lyon appears to be the most suitable path to save the promising Brazilian talent's season.