Brazilian youngster Endrick made his Real Madrid debut in a 1-0 friendly defeat to AC Milan on Wednesday. Although he did not make much of an impression, the 18-year-old talent was still highly rated by coach Carlo Ancelotti for his skills.

The match at Soldier Field in Chicago, witnessed by 61,568 spectators, was a much-awaited performance for Endrick, with Real Madrid missing a number of stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo. However, the 18-year-old Brazilian had just one shot on target in 45 minutes, before being substituted at half-time as part of a major personnel rotation by coach Carlo Ancelotti.

After the match, coach Ancelotti reminded fans that it would be unfair to ask too much of a young player like Endrick in his first season at a giant club like Real Madrid. But he also pointed to the potential he could bring: “Endrick has something really special. He is very fast, very dangerous in tight spaces, has a great ability to turn… and all these qualities mean he is a fantastic talent. It is rare to see a player with such characteristics at such a young age.”

Another name to watch is Arda Guler, after the Turkey international was outstanding throughout the match. Ancelotti praised Guler for working hard during his break, and returning to the team in even better form. The Italian predicted that the 2024-25 season will see Guler make a significant impact.

“Arda trained very well during his break. He came back stronger, more resilient and with the same quality,” said Ancelotti. “I think this will be a big season for him, he will stand out. His best position is as a number 10, playing between the lines, but better on the right so he can take advantage of his left foot. Over time, Arda can become a good midfielder too.”