Endrick and Diomande Choose Real Madrid Over Liverpool
Jose Mourinho knows Liverpool. He has clashed with them in title races, cup ties and grudge matches across spells at Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham. Now at Real Madrid, he is frustrating them again – this time in the transfer market.
Endrick shuts door on Liverpool interest
Liverpool sounded out Real Madrid over Endrick after missing out on Yan Diomande, but the young Brazilian has no intention of leaving the Bernabeu, according to ESPN.
Despite growing competition in Madrid’s attack, Endrick is described as happy and energised after working under Mourinho in pre-season. The Portuguese coach is understood to see him as a flexible attacking weapon rather than a fringe prospect, and both player and manager have rejected recent approaches from Aston Villa and Roma.
Endrick’s actions back that up. The 20-year-old started and scored in his first pre-season outing against Fiorentina, then kept his place for friendlies against Deportivo La Coruna and Ferencvaros. He did not feature in Madrid’s latest warm-up, but his involvement so far underlines Mourinho’s willingness to use him rather than push him towards the exit.
That stance has left Liverpool looking elsewhere.
Diomande picks Madrid – and Mourinho – over Anfield
Liverpool were prepared to go big for Yan Diomande. The Reds were willing to commit close to £100million to land the Ivory Coast international, only for him to choose Madrid instead.
Diomande has been open about why. Speaking to SportyTV, he revealed the personal touch that swung it.
“Mourinho got up at five in the morning to talk to me,” he said. When Madrid called, the decision felt inevitable. “When Madrid calls you, you can't say no. So I said: ‘If they want me, that's where I'll be.’”
The winger, formerly of RB Leipzig, made his non-competitive debut in Endrick’s absence, coming on for Brahim Diaz for the final half-hour of a pre-season game. Since arriving, he has spoken with almost fierce admiration for his new boss.
“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.’”
Diomande 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.”
It is the kind of loyalty Liverpool once inspired from players under their own charismatic managers. This time, though, Mourinho is the one winning the tug-of-war.
Liverpool’s search widens after Madrid setbacks
With Endrick staying put and Diomande already in white, Liverpool have been forced to cast the net wider.
Their latest concrete move was a £50million bid for Yankuba Minteh, turned down by Brighton & Hove Albion. Minteh remains the player they have actually tested the market for, despite a long list of names being discussed.
The club have held early exploratory talks over Ibrahim Mbaye and Magnhes Akilouche. Any pursuit there is already over: both have since joined Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG are central to another of Liverpool’s big targets. The French champions are in talks with the Reds over Bradley Barcola, but their stance is uncompromising. They want £140million for the France international. Barcola, for his part, has privately made it clear he wants to join Liverpool, yet his price tag is towering even in a market used to excess.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Said El Mala have also been assessed as potential options earlier in the window, adding more names to a growing list of forwards linked with Anfield.
For now, though, the pattern is stark. When Madrid and Mourinho call, players like Diomande and Endrick are staying where they are. Liverpool must decide how far they are willing to push – and how much they are prepared to pay – to finally land the forward who says yes.
