Rodrygo has joked that a teenage team-mate with Brazil and Real Madrid is “not Endrick anymore”, with a Bobby Charlton nickname beginning to stick.
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Teenager a big fan of England legendColleagues poking fun at youngsterRodrygo reacts to Ballon d'Or snubWHAT HAPPENED?
Brazilian wonderkid Endrick shocked many when stating – after scoring for his country in a friendly date with England at Wembley Stadium – that World Cup-winning former Manchester United and Three Lions star Charlton is one of his idols.
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Club and international colleagues have been quick to pick up on that, with Rodrygo telling of the fun being poked at a highly-rated youngster: “Now he's Bobby. He's not Endrick anymore. He's caught on to that joke. The reception he's had there (at Real Madrid) is good, not just from the Brazilians. We have a very good group at Real, and it's no different with him. We know his quality and how he can help us. He's become Bobby, that's it. He's taking it easy. There's nothing he can do, if he gets angry it's worse!”
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Madrid stars flooded Endrick’s Instagram account with “Bobby” comments after seeing him net his first goal for the club. He is considered to be the hottest of prospects and a potential Ballon d’Or contender of the future – having only recently turned 18.
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Rodrygo had hoped to be in contention for that prize in 2024 – after helping Real to La Liga and Champions League titles last season – and has said of being overlooked on France Football’s 30-man list of contenders: “I was upset, I think I deserved it. I had a good season and I deserved to be there. Without taking anything away from the players who are there, but I think I had a place in the top 30. It was a surprise. I expected it, but there's not much I can do, I'm not the one who decides these things. I just have to play, work every day, that's what I'm going to continue to do.”