José Mourinho: I'll be 'grateful' if Brazil boss Ancelotti gives Endrick minutes

Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho may be unable to give Endrick the opportunities the Brazilian craves but hopes that national team boss Carlo Ancelotti will give the forward plenty of minutes over the international break.

Endrick, 20, a member of Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad, is in Ancelotti's group for the international friendlies against Japan on Nov. 14 and Singapore on Nov. 17. He has clocked only 141 minutes under Mourinho this season.

Speaking after Madrid's 3-0 league win at Valencia on Saturday after Endrick came on in the 84th minute, Mourinho said: "Just look at who's going [to the Brazil national team] with Carlo [Ancelotti]: Vinícius [Júnior,] who must play; Endrick, and if Carlo plays him, I'll be grateful."

Both players are already on international duty. Endrick logged 139 minutes in three games in the last international break and wants more regular playing time with Madrid.

"I just want to play," he said on Monday.

"I want to be happy, to help my teammates... To score goals and provide assists, just as I did at Lyon, which was one of the best things that's ever happened to me and one of the happiest times of my life."

Mourinho has reiterated that Endrick's future is at the Bernabeu.

Endrick, however, when asked about his future, said: "I don't know what will happen in January.

"That's in God's hands. I'm only 20 and I'll see what happens. I just ask to do what's best for my career. "Whatever happens, happens. I'll keep my feet on the ground and do my best. Madrid is a wonderful city, but I'll always do everything I can to further my career."

Endrick has already had one successful loan spell, at Lyon in the second half of last season. He has said he does enjoy working under Mourinho. "Mourinho is someone I really trust," Endrick said. "Every day, he comes up to me and asks how I am -- but never about football; it's always about my personal life. I really appreciate that.

"He's one of the first managers to come over, have a chat and make me feel very welcome. I'm very grateful for that. I'll always give my all for Real Madrid, which comes before everything else, but with Mourinho's warmth, I give even more."

Facts are facts, though. Endrick has played seven games for Madrid this season, only one as a starter, and scored one goal. He knows regular playing time will be tough to get.

"You know full well who we've got there -- he's the second-best player in the world according to the latest Ballon d'Or," Endrick said of teammate Kylian Mbappé.

"And we know who Kylian is. Whenever I get the chance at Real -- and I did just recently after the last FIFA international break -- I try to perform to the best of my ability. I've come on in matches for five minutes, or 10 minutes... The games where I played for the longest were against Roma and AEK Athens.

"Those were moments I made the most of. I know it's not easy."

Vinícius, meanwhile, recently served a four-match ban in LaLiga and will be available for Madrid for the league game against Celta Vigo on Nov. 21.