Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Chelsea, Endrick, Real Madrid, Football, La Liga, Premier League, Brazil
Lewis Browning
Topics: Chelsea, Endrick, Real Madrid, Football, La Liga, Premier League, Brazil
Endrick's father has revealed the reason why his son's proposed move to Chelsea collapsed.
The Brazilian teenager was one of the most sought-after talents in the January transfer window, and eventually joined Real Madrid in a deal that could rise to a fee of £51million.
Endrick's father has now confirmed he was close to joining Chelsea before his move to Madrid before the Premier League club pulled out of the deal.
It is claimed that Chelsea feared they would 'inflate the market' if they signed the teenager, meaning they had to look elsewhere for a transfer.
“We received an invitation from Chelsea, from the owner, and we went there to see the club and the country," Endrick's father said (via Fabrizio Romano).
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"We saw Chelsea play against Arsenal and we had the opportunity to see the coach, the facilities, Jorginho, Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva.
"They explained everything to us. We were introduced to the person who would help us settle in. She showed us the house we would live in, the school that Endrick would attend, the church we would attend. Everything was in order for us and Chelsea.
"However, everything was twisted at the last moment. I can't say 100 per cent because I hadn't signed yet, but the agreement was closed. I had already thought that I would live in London with all that cold weather.
"But then, at night, my son's representative called and said that the owner of Chelsea withdrew from the deal because the price they would have to pay for Endrick would inflate the market.
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"It was €60million (£51million) in total for a 16-year-old boy who would arrive in the country almost two years later."
Endrick currently remains a Palmeiras player but will join Madrid at the end of the season.
The call from Chelsea to pull out of the deal has left some raised eyebrows given the Blues' spending under the current ownership.
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The club have spent over £1billion on players since Todd Boehly took over at the start of last season, but still sit 12th in the Premier League table.