Umtiti Criticizes Endrick: "He Only Thinks About Shooting" After Decline in Form with Lyon

Samuel Umtiti, former Barcelona and Lyon defender, has harshly criticized Brazilian striker Endrick, a player for Olympique Lyon, stating that his performance has noticeably declined after a successful start with the team last January.
Umtiti, who currently works as a technical analyst on French channels, said: "As soon as he gets the ball, the first thing he thinks about is shooting… it seems he plays for his personal selfishness more than for the team."

Inconsistent Performance After a Promising Start

Endrick (19 years old) joined Lyon on loan from Real Madrid for 6 months and started strong, contributing to 5 goals in his first 3 matches. However, his performance began to drop in recent weeks, affecting his synergy with teammates, according to Umtiti. The French defender added:
"I thought he had understood the situation and abandoned his previous habits, but what he is doing now will not benefit him at all."

Pressure Before the 2026 World Cup

Endrick aims to regain his form with Lyon to attract the attention of Brazil's coach Carlo Ancelotti and secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup scheduled between June 11 and July 19.
Since his last goal in the French Cup on February 4, Endrick has not scored any more goals, and he received a red card in a match against Nantes in Ligue 1, increasing the pressure on him before crucial months in his international career.