Jose Mourinho Blocks Liverpool's Pursuit of Endrick and Diomande

Jose Mourinho has spent a career colliding with Liverpool. From the dugouts at Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham, he has traded touchline glares, tactical jabs and knockout blows with the Anfield club. Now at Real Madrid, he has just beaten them to another target – and helped shut down any hope of prising away one of his brightest young forwards.

Endrick unmoved by Liverpool interest

Endrick is not planning an escape from Madrid. Despite Liverpool sounding out his situation this summer, the Brazil international is, according to ESPN, intent on staying put after an eye‑catching pre-season under Mourinho.

Liverpool’s enquiry came on the back of their move for Yan Diomande, a deal that stung. The Premier League side were prepared to go close to £100million for the Ivory Coast international, only to watch him pick the Bernabeu over Merseyside.

The winger has since laid bare just how hard Mourinho pushed to secure him. Speaking to SportyTV, Diomande revealed: “Mourinho got up at five in the morning to talk to me.” When Madrid called, the decision was instant. “When Madrid calls you, you can't say no. So I said: ‘If they want me, that's where I'll be’.”

That choice has had a knock-on effect. With Diomande through the door and competition for attacking spots intensifying, Endrick could easily have looked elsewhere. Instead, he has impressed in training and convinced Mourinho he can be a flexible, multi-position threat across the frontline.

Mourinho blocks Villa and Roma

The belief is mutual. Both Mourinho and Endrick are understood to have turned down recent offers from Aston Villa and Roma. Interest was serious; the answer was firm.

Endrick, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Lyon, has been given a genuine audition this summer. The 20-year-old started and scored in his first pre-season outing against Fiorentina, a sharp reminder of what he can offer. He then kept his place in the starting XI for friendlies with Deportivo La Coruna and Ferencvaros, though he sat out Madrid’s most recent run-out.

In his absence, Diomande made his non-competitive debut, coming on for Brahim Diaz for the final half-hour. It did not take long for the new signing to underline where his loyalties lie.

Diomande: “I am prepared to die for him”

Diomande has spoken with striking devotion about Mourinho since landing in Spain. In the same SportyTV interview, he recalled the manager’s first words to him at Valdebebas: “As soon as I arrived, he told me: ‘I promised you that you were going to be part of my team, and here you are.’ And I told him: ‘I'm happy to work with you because you are the best.’”

The winger did not stop there. “I can learn a lot from him; he is the right coach to continue my development. I am prepared to die for him.”

That kind of bond makes it even harder for Liverpool to tempt anyone away from Madrid’s attacking stable. Mourinho has his forwards bought in, literally and figuratively.

Liverpool’s search moves elsewhere

With Endrick off the table and Diomande already lost to Madrid, Liverpool have been forced to pivot. Their latest push has been for Yankuba Minteh, only to be knocked back again. Brighton & Hove Albion have rejected a £50million offer for the winger.

The recruitment team at Anfield have been busy lining up alternatives. Early exploratory talks have taken place for Ibrahim Mbaye and Magnhes Akilouche. Both, though, have slipped away, with Akilouche joining Mbaye at Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG remain central to Liverpool’s plans. The French club have been locked in discussions with the Reds for weeks over Bradley Barcola. The stance from Paris is brutal: £140million for the France international. Barcola, for his part, has made it clear privately that he wants the move to Anfield.

Other names have floated across Liverpool’s radar this summer. Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Said El Mala were both identified as possible options, but Minteh is the only one they have actually bid for so far.

Mourinho, meanwhile, has what he wants: Diomande in the building, Endrick staying put, and suitors turned away. Liverpool’s search for the next big attacking star goes on. Madrid’s is already wearing white.