Endrick, a Brazilian forward, criticised the negative publicity that had been written about him and denied comparisons to Pele.
When he turns 18 in July 2024, the 16-year-old will go to LaLiga after Real Madrid announced a contract to sign him from Palmeiras in December.
After it was revealed that he would be moving to the Santiago Bernabeu, Endrick has battled with his form, scoring just once in 13 games across all competitions, and the heightened media attention he has been subjected to.
“Sometimes I ask myself: Why are there so many stories about me? I didn’t ask for this. There are situations that cross a line,” he told GQ.
“‘Ah, he’s the new Pele.’ Man, nobody is going to be Pele, he’s the king of football.
“But there’s nothing I can do, I can’t ask people not to talk about my life.
I always said I’d like all Brazilians to be able to be close to me, but I understand more and more that that’s not possible, there will always be people who attack me.”
Endrick also criticised the false stories that have been published about him, adding: “I used to be aware of what people were saying about me. But not anymore.
“I like TikTok, but when I see something about me, I move on quickly.
“Recently a story came out saying that I was in therapy, but that’s a lie. The press don’t know what’s happening, and they publish it. But I can’t do anything.
If I come out and contradict everything they say, I’d spend all my time doing it.”