Fight for Madrid's #9 is on: Young Brazilian or club's child?

From one point of view, squad numbers are of little importance. Truth be told, some players are often linked to numbers that became part of their appearance (Lionel Messi and 10, Cristiano Ronaldo and 7), but we've also seen defenders wearing 9 or 10 or forwards wearing numbers like 2 or 3.

Still, at a gigantic club like Real Madrid, nothing's insignificant.

Thanks to La Liga rules, all first-team players are obliged to wear numbers between 1 and 25, and at the moment, the only free numbers in Los Blancos' squad are 9 and 25. Now, given that 1, 13, and 25 are reserved for custodians, outfield players will battle only for the "holy" #9.

Real Madrid's 10 has got a new 'owner' upon Modric's leave

And the entire "domino effect" started with Luka Modric's departure. Once the Croat left Santiago Bernabeu, Kylian Mbappe took the prestigious #10, worn by names like Ferenc Puskas, Michael Laudrup, Clarence Seedorf, Luis Figo, Robinho, Wesley Sneijder, Mesut Ozil, etc.

At the same time, the Frenchman left #9 free, and according to the Spanish Diario AS, there's a dilemma in Madrid, as there are two candidates for it - Endrick and Gonzalo Garcia.

On the one hand, the Brazilian has been the club's prospect for some time, and it would be logical for him to replace #16 with the genuine strikers' number. On the other hand, the youngster is Los Blancos' child and has been outstanding at the 2025 FIFA Club World, winning the Top Goal Scorer Award.

The 21-year-old Spaniard is currently a member of Madrid's reserve squad, but if he soon agrees to join the first team, he would be in the mix for #9.

Still, Diario AS claims that Endrick's chances of getting the number are higher, while Garcia will most likely succeed the Brazilian's #16.

Once again, it may sound trivial, but at Santiago Bernabeu, everything matters.