“I’ll always follow him”: Red-hot INEOS target explains reason behind his “affection” for United

Manchester United may have struggled to maintain their high standards since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, but they remain one of the most iconic clubs in the world. The Red Devils continue to be heavily followed across the planet thanks to their rich history and tradition, as well as their ability to nurture talented youngsters into world beaters. Perhaps the most famous example in recent times is Cristiano Ronaldo, who arrived at Old Trafford as a lanky teenager and proceeded to take the footballing world by storm. The Premier League giants were looking for David Beckham’s replacement in the summer of 2003 when they discovered the Portuguese starlet. Ronaldo spent six seasons with United, winning nine trophies and also lifting the first of his five Ballon d’Or awards, before moving to Real Madrid. While his fairytale second coming did not pan out as expected, he remains one of the Red Devils’ most famous sons. The English giants have similarly kept an eye out for emerging talents across the world in recent years, and one player who remains very much on their radar is Endrick. Endrick’s struggles at Real Madrid Real Madrid saw off stiff competition from major clubs in Europe to secure Endrick’s signature in December 2022. The Brazilian arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2024, but struggled for game time under Carlo Ancelotti. His fortunes failed to improve following the arrival of Xabi Alonso last summer, which added to speculation regarding his future. United were reportedly among the clubs considering a loan move for the 19 year old, who ended up joining Lyon instead. Endrick has been a revelation since the move, registering seven goals and seven assists for the Ligue 1 club in 17 appearances. Endrick Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Ligue 112104621902′ Coupe de France33211-252′ UEFA Europa League221—157′ La Liga10—111′ Copa del Rey11—-77′ UEFA Champions League10—-11′ Total201677321,410′ Source: Transfermarkt. His efforts have already caused a stir at Old Trafford, with United reportedly considering a move this summer. The Brazilian has previously explained his admiration for Red Devils legend Sir Bobby Charlton, and he has now revealed that he grew up watching the Red Devils because of one player. Endrick’s admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo Speaking to Four Four Two, Endrick explained that he was fond of United because of Cristiano Ronaldo. He said: “I had affection for Manchester United, because that’s where Cristiano Ronaldo played and achieved so much. Everyone watches the Premier League – it has excellent clubs, a lot of excitement and a lot of matches that are decided in the final moments.” “I’ve followed Ronaldo’s career closely and watched YouTube videos of him playing at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and now Al Nassr. It doesn’t matter where he is, I’ll always follow him.” The Brazilian also confirmed that there was interest from the Premier League in January, and remained coy about a future move. He added: “Yes, there was interest from English clubs (in January), and from Italy and Germany too. Some very good clubs showed interest, but it’s not necessary to mention names.” “I thank them for their interest. I have God in my life and when I heard about the English clubs that were interested, I didn’t hear God telling me it was the destination at that moment, and neither did my wife.” “When you get married, you know who’s really in charge! [Laughs] So it’s important to listen to her opinion. But when the name Lyon appeared, both my wife and I felt the touch of God. If one day I go to the Premier League, then it will not only be my decision, it will be something God places in my path.” Final Thoughts United could be tempted by a cut-price deal for Endrick, provided Real Madrid are ready to let him go. With the Red Devils expected to participate in four competitions next season, the Brazilian could add depth to the squad, especially with Joshua Zirkzee’s future uncertain. Featured image Denis Doyle via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.