Paulo Fonseca, coach of Lyon, argued that Endrick’s call up to Brazil’s squad for the World Cup is a natural consequence of his performance in France. Speaking to Flashscore Brasil, the coach praised the young striker’s impact since his arrival at the club.
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“Obviously I’m very pleased that he was called up. In fact, after his performance here, I think it was inevitable. His performance here was really very, very positive,” said Paulo Fonseca, referring to the 19-year-old player’s inclusion on Carlo Ancelotti’s list.
After a spell at Real Madrid with few opportunities over a season and a half, Endrick found the space to establish himself at Lyon. Under the guidance of the Portuguese coach, the striker rose to prominence, quickly adapting to a demanding championship — he scored five goals and provided seven assists in 16 games, 14 of which as a starter.
«The numbers are incredible for such a short period of time. For a player who had to adapt to a new football, a new team, a new city. And we cannot forget that he comes from a reality that is completely opposite to what he found in Lyon”, highlighted the coach.
In addition to the statistics, Fonseca valued the striker’s overall evolution: «He has improved physically, he has improved tactically and I think his participation in the collective game has improved immensely. So I’m not surprised that he was called up. He was really an important player, very important for us.”
«I think he is a player with a great future. He is a player with unique technical quality and is only 19 years old. The truth is that people often forget that he is in a difficult context and is only 19 years old,” he said, adding: “He has his entire career ahead of him and I believe that, as the years go by, he will be increasingly influential in the Brazil national team.”
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