Brazil manager Dorival Junior has admitted he “does not have time” to try and get players up to speed after dropping Real Madrid striker Endrick from his latest squad.

The 18-year-old striker had been a permanent fixture in the Brazil squad since November 2023 but will play no part this month after being left out of the Selecao setup.

Asked for an explanation, Dorival pledged his support to Endrick but insisted he has simply not played enough football to be at the required level to make an impact on the international stage.

“We have several decisions that are sometimes made moments before the final list,” he explained. “Some important names were left out, like Endrick, but we have a situation that has to be well defined. 

“It has a greater weight for those who are playing, because you don’t have time for training, to make up for lost time. We have to think about these details. Are they performing or not? That’s the question to answer.

“Endrick was crucial in some games. He is going through a transition period in the biggest team in world football. It is a natural process of adaptation, and it takes time. We have to live with the situation. The doors are not closed to Endrick, he knows that, and I have confidence in him. It is all a matter of him finding his place in his club, calmly and patiently, so that he can fight for his place.”

Since joining Real Madrid in the summer, Endrick has racked up nine appearances, but just one of his seven La Liga outings has lasted longer than six minutes, while he was an unused substitute in each of Madrid’s last three league games.

There were rumours earlier this season that Endrick was considering a loan move away from Madrid, although recent reports claimed the 18-year-old was happier with life at the Santiago Bernabeu and was no longer looking to leave. Whether his omission from the Brazil squad will once again change that stance remains to be seen.

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