Real Madrid’s young star, Endrick, found himself at the center of a storm during Los Blancos’ 3-2 win over Alaves on Tuesday night.
In what was meant to be a smooth victory at the Santiago Bernabeu, an incident involving the 18-year-old Brazilian has left many wondering whether he should have seen red.
MORE: All the latest soccer news | Real Madrid news | Explaining how 'socios' own Real Madrid
The groin kick by Endrick: Was it a red card?
Endrick was subbed on in the last 20 minutes of the La Liga clash and quickly became involved in a heated moment with Alaves defender Santiago Mourino.
As the two battled for position in the penalty box, Endrick appeared to strike Mourino in the groin with his knee. Surprisingly, the referee only showed him a yellow card, much to the outrage of Alaves coach Luis Garcia Plaza.
Plaza didn’t hold back after the match, insisting that the young forward should have been sent off. “It’s a red card. We should have played the last 10 minutes against 10 men. It’s a clear red, nobody can say it wasn’t. If the referee didn’t see it, that’s what VAR is for,” Plaza said, clearly frustrated by the decision.
"Red card for Endrick? I didn't see it, I can't comment"
— total Barça (@totalBarca) September 25, 2024
Ancelotti is such a coward. pic.twitter.com/8Co0mArlMA
While Alaves fans were seeing red, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti kept his cool, avoiding any suggestion that his player should have been ejected. Endrick’s continued presence on the pitch was crucial for Madrid, helping them maintain their narrow lead and stay in the title race.
For Real Madrid fans, Endrick’s aggressive play might not have been his finest moment, but it certainly spiced up an already thrilling match. With a huge derby against Atletico Madrid looming on Sunday, Los Blancos will need every bit of fire from players like Endrick — hopefully without any more controversial kicks.
Madrid’s victory over Alaves keeps them close to rivals Barcelona, and if they can overcome Atletico this weekend, the La Liga title race will only get more heated.
