Lyon loan helping 'explosive' Endrick's World Cup 'dream' with Brazil

Even those who do not follow French football in its most granular detail will be aware of the plight that could have befallen Lyon this summer.

Spared from administrative relegation to Ligue 2 just five and a half weeks before the start of the season, the club’s future in the French top flight hinged on their capacity to fulfil financial promises.

A firesale of the side’s most valuable assets duly ensued, and with it, expectations of a third successive season of European football dwindled.

Constrained by their financial frailties, Les Gones, spearheaded by sporting director Matthieu Louis-Jean, had to work diligently, embarking on an agile recruitment drive.

Spotting talent from lesser-known European leagues became a central tenet of their philosophy.

“We worked on different markets,” outlined the former Nottingham Forest right-back in September.

Amid a flurry of moves, Pavel Sulc and Ruben Kluivert arrived on permanent deals from Viktoria Plzen and Casa Pia respectively, while Adam Karabec joined from Sparta Prague on loan.

Louis-Jean has cultivated a burgeoning reputation as a strategic operator, but his most innovative market manoeuvre would have to wait until the winter window.

Having deviated from their reactive tendencies of the past, Lyon were left without a central striker of note, preferring to secure the temporary services of Martin Satriano on loan.

“We took a decision on the final day of the transfer window to leave the position of a first-choice striker open,” said general director Michael Gerlinger.

Louis-Jean, and Lyon’s wider recruitment department, were convinced an opportunity would present itself in January. Their intuition soon morphed into prophecy.

Having amassed just 99 minutes of action for Real Madrid during the first half of the season, Brazil striker Endrick needed an escape. Lyon were more than happy to provide sanctuary for a player and talisman they desperately craved.

“We had been waiting for a number nine for so long,” said Louis-Jean upon the 19-year-old’s unveiling after joining on loan until the end of the season.

Endrick’s unveiling video is the most watched of all time on Lyon’s Instagram account [Getty Images]

At a club where strikers are held in such reverence, his impact has been almost divine.

He scored 42 minutes into his debut against Lille in the last 32 of the French Cup. Another four goals have followed in five games.

Three of those came against Metz, making him the youngest player to score a Ligue 1 hat-trick for Lyon, surpassing the great Bernard Lacombe, who had held the record for 54 years.

Before Saturday’s match with Nantes, no Lyon player had been directly involved in more goals (six), had more shots on target (14), or completed more dribbles (19) than the Brazilian since his arrival.

Endrick’s signing perpetuates a long-held legacy of Brazilians representing the club.

Juninho Pernambucano, Cris and Sonny Anderson are just a few to have spent significant portions of their careers with Lyon, each contributing to the club’s unprecedented run of seven successive Ligue 1 crowns between 2002 and 2008.

“I know there are a lot [of Brazilians] that have played for the club, and many of them have had a fantastic career here,” said Endrick during his first interview with French newspaper L’Equipe.

Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Guimaraes, Brazil team-mates of Endrick, provided counsel prior to his move.

“Before coming, I spoke with Paqueta and Bruno,” he said. “They told me it was a place I could be really happy.”

Personal fulfillment, and a chance “to play football” with this summer’s World Cup looming, he says were driving factors in his decision to join.

“Obviously it’s a dream I have – that won’t change. If you don’t play well for your club, however, you can’t have a chance of playing for Brazil,” he added.

If strikers are revered in Lyon, they are held in almost sacred status in Brazil.

“We don’t have that mobile number nine in the Brazil side,” says former Lyon captain Cris.

“We have Gabriel Jesus, Richarlison, but there’s a space there for him to help the side with his mobility and the way he sees the game.”

Ultimately, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti will be the man who decides if Endrick makes the plane.

“We had a wonderful conversation,” said Endrick when asked about whether the Italian had been in contact before his move.

“He gave me some advice that has stayed with me,” he added. “Now, I have to work in order to improve and become a better player.”

Lyon, and Ligue 1, provide the perfect platform for him to do just that.

“He’s very explosive, very quick, very good in one-on-one situations,” enthused Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca after his debut against Lille.

His contentious sending-off for two yellow cards against Nantes on Saturday, however, following a petulant kick out after some robust challenges against him, provides a timely reminder of the adjustments Endrick needs to make.

“When there are players of that calibre, we have to make sure to contain them,” said Nantes manager Ahmed Kantari in the aftermath.

Herein lies the challenge Endrick will have to confront – at Madrid he was part of a constellation of stars, while here he assumes that mantle almost uniquely.

Endrick is the youngest player to score a Ligue 1 hat-trick for Lyon [Getty Images]

Endrick celebrates — Endrick is the youngest player to score a Ligue 1 hat-trick for Lyon [Getty Images]

That influence transcends the pitch, too – his signing representing a commercial coup as well as a sporting one.

“It’s obvious his notoriety will boost the club’s image,” Gerlinger said during the Brazilian’s presentation.

The results have been tangible. His arrival video, published on the club’s official Instagram account, is the club’s most-watched on the platform, while highlights of games against Metz, Lille, Brest and Stade Laval – in which Endrick featured – top their YouTube charts.

Lyon will hope his impending one-game suspension does not stymie his, or their, seamless progress of late.

Prior to Endrick’s arrival, Fonseca’s side had recorded a run of four wins in all competitions – subsequently extended to 12.

Having crafted a favourable route to the Europa League final courtesy of their top-place finish during the league phase, a spot in the quarter-finals of the French Cup secured, and firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification, Endrick’s hopes of “making history” at the club – like so many compatriots before him – may just come true.

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