Endrick Set for Real Madrid Return in Champions League vs Inter

Real Madrid are preparing to open their 2026/27 Champions League campaign with a familiar sense of occasion – and a long-awaited comeback story on the touchline.

Endrick, out since his injury in Budapest, is finally back in the matchday picture and could make his official return on Tuesday, when Real host Inter Milan at 4 p.m.

The expectations around him are huge. The minutes, far less so.

“He may be ready to play 5 minutes, 10 at most. He trained with the team for the first time yesterday and hasn't played since Budapest. He isn't fit for more,” the Real Madrid coach admitted, cutting through the hype with a dose of realism.

The message is clear: this will be a cameo, not a coronation. But even a brief glimpse of the Brazilian will feel significant for a club that has been waiting to plug another explosive talent into an already terrifying attack.

The coach, though, still found room for a little mischief when asked how Endrick might fit into this star-studded side.

“He will play in attack. I guarantee he won't play at left-back or center-back. (He can play) on the right or the left, (as a) 9 or 10,” he said, with a touch of irony that barely disguised the excitement at having another weapon to deploy.

It is not as if Real Madrid are short of firepower. In recent matches, the manager has unleashed a front line built around Jude Bellingham, Arda Güler, Vini Jr, and Mbappé – a blend of power, flair, and invention that already stretches opponents to breaking point.

Now comes the intriguing part. Where does Endrick squeeze into that constellation?

For now, the answer is simple: off the bench, in short bursts, and only if the game allows it. But if he does step onto the pitch against Inter, even for those “5 minutes, 10 at most,” it will mark the start of a new chapter at the Bernabéu – and raise the question that will follow Real Madrid all season: just how frightening can this attack become when the Brazilian is fully fit?