Mourinho insists the Brazilian forward remains part of his plans despite limited minutes since recovering from injury.
“Whoever wants him will have to fight me,” Mourinho told TNT Sports Brasil. “I adore Endrick.
"He has incredible potential and is very important to us. I believe he does not need to go out on loan and will be very successful here in Madrid.”
Endrick had been linked with Roma after struggling to secure regular opportunities at the Santiago Bernabéu. The 20-year-old missed more than a month at the start of the season with an injury, and Mourinho acknowledged that his return has not yet translated into a sustained run in the side.
The coach said Endrick had been close to coming on in a recent match before Real Madrid scored and were reduced to 10 men, circumstances that changed his thinking about substitutions. Mourinho nevertheless made clear that he would resist any attempt to take the forward away in January.
The comments came as Mourinho prepared to face AS Roma, the club he led to the Europa Conference League title and the Europa League final. Speaking to Sky Sport, he reflected on the affection he still feels for the supporters, even though the teams will be opponents at the Stadio Olimpico.
“Returning to the Olimpico is beautiful, but for 90 minutes we will be opponents. Roma’s fans and I will never be enemies,” he said. “If people want to give me a special welcome before the match, I will embrace the Roma supporters.”
Mourinho admitted that his departure had not ended as he would have wished, but said the reunion would offer a chance to feel the fans’ affection. He also acknowledged the work of Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini, saying he had great respect for a manager who had made an important contribution to Italian football over several years.
For Mourinho, sentiment will have to wait once the match begins.
“They will want to win and I will want to win,” he said, underlining the competitive divide between a club that remains close to him and the team he now leads.
His public backing for Endrick also offers a clear message ahead of the January window: the coach does not want the young forward’s future decided by a lack of early-season minutes.