“Move not good for team balance”, says Sidney Govou; Endrick could be “a problem”
Lyon’s decision to sign Endrick on loan has been criticised by the club’s former player Sidney Govou.
The 19-year-old Brazilian sealed a January transfer from Real Madrid this week after finding opportunities scarce under Xabi Alonso.
Endrick played just 12 minutes of league football in the first half of the season, forcing Madrid to sanction a loan to give the striker regular minutes.
The Brazilian hopes a productive spell in France could help him push his way back into the national team picture ahead of the 2026 World Cup, having last featured for the Seleção in March.
Lyon moved quickly to secure the deal, beating off reported interest from Premier League sides, including West Ham. However, former Lyon winger Govou was unconvinced by the transfer.
“Regarding the transfer window, I understand the coach wants a striker, a centre-back, and two or three midfielders,” Govou said. “But when a system is working well, you have to be careful, because it can break down very quickly.
“Would a striker who scored more goals put in the same defensive work as Satriano? I only believe in the winter transfer window when you need to replace an injured player. I’m not sure it’s always good for the team’s balance.”
In addition to team tactics and strategy, Govou also has doubts about the player himself.
“Nobody knows enough about Endrick to know what he’s capable of, even if he’s undoubtedly a good player,” Govou said.
“However, be careful, a substitute who never plays often indicates a problem. Endrick will have individual goals that might not align with the team’s collective objectives, and that’s what bothers me.”
