Gasperini opens up about Endrick and Real Madrid transfer request

Gasperini opens up about Endrick and Real Madrid transfer request During his pre-match press conference on the eve of a Champions League match against Real Madrid, Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini said he wouldn’t ask about the Merengues’ striker Endrick, who has been linked with a move to the Stadio Olimpico in the January window. Roma host Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday in the second round of the league phase of the Champions League. ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 19: Gian Piero Gasperini, Manager of AS Roma, looks on before the Serie A match between AS Roma and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico on September 19, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) The Giallorossi have been linked with Real Madrid striker Endrick, who has played only four minutes for the Merengues this season. Gasperini ‘not interested’ in January window amid Endrick links BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – AUGUST 8: Endrick of Real Madrid during the match between Ferencvarosi TC and Real Madrid at Groupama Arena on August 8, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by David Balogh/Getty Images) A reporter asked Gaperini whether he’d talk to José Mourinho about the Brazilian attacker tomorrow, but the Italian tactician replied: “I don’t think so. I’m not interested in the January window. We only have it at the beginning of a stretch of games, and tomorrow’s will feel like something we’ve been missing for a long time.” Sky Sport asked him the same thing during a pre-match interview, but the answer didn’t change much: “I hope to hug my players. Actually, we’ll hug anyway because tomorrow we’ll play a match we haven’t played in a long time, and for Roma, it’s been a long time since they’ve played against the most successful team, so we hope to hug each other and be happy at the end of the game,” Gasperini said. During his press conference, Gasperini also spoke about Mourinho’s return to the Stadio Olimpico and jokingly said that he admires the Portuguese coach’s ability to persuade his clubs to make big-money signings. VERONA, ITALY – MAY 24: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, acknowledges the fans after the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and AS Roma at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on May 24, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Endrick, 20, spent the second part of the 2025-26 season on loan at Lyon, scoring five goals and providing seven assists in 16 appearances across all competitions. He’s also been linked with Milan for the January transfer window, but reports suggest Real Madrid will only let him leave on loan.