Sports

Brazil’s latest soccer sensation turns pro on 16th birthday

Sao Paulo, Jul 21 (EFE).- Budding soccer star Endrick, widely touted as “the next Neymar,” celebrated turning 16 Thursday by signing his first professional contract with Palmeiras.

The young striker, who has been attached to the Sao Paulo club since he was 10, is already on the radar of major European teams such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United.

“It’s a feeling of pride to see what I have planted and what I am reaping with the beginning of this new cycle,” Endrick said Thursday. “I am grateful for the trust of Palmeiras. I will continue to stay humble with my feet on the ground.”

Neither the player nor the club disclosed any details of the three-year deal, but Brazilian media outlets said that the contract includes a rescission clause in the amount of 60 million euros ($61.1 million).

“It is not easy to play for Palmeiras, they are a team with many stars. I’m going to learn a lot from them. I’ve already received a lot of advice when I came to train here,” Endrick said during Thursday’s signing ceremony, where he was joined by his parents, Douglas and Cintia Ramos.

Endrick led the Palmeiras youth team to triumph in this year’s under-17 Brazil Cup and was named Player of the Tournament in the Copinha de Sao Paulo, where he scored six goals, including a spectacular overhead strike that went viral.

Endrick has 36 goals in 53 official matches in the U-15, U-17 and U-20 categories. EFE

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