Chelsea scouts came for Endrick – but left talking about Diego Moreira

Robin Bairner

• 23 Feb 2026 01:04 CST
• 4 min read

Analysis

Chelsea have been linked with Real Madrid star Endrick, but after watching him face their BlueCo sister club Strasbourg on Sunday, their eye may have been caught by someone else entirely.

Sunday’s Ligue 1 clash between Strasbourg and Lyon would have been a game that Blues scouts were watching particularly closely.

Not only do the Premier League side hold a transfer interest in Endrick, on loan at OL from Real Madrid until the summer with no purchase option, but they would have tracked just how well Racing’s players equipped themselves against a team that had won 13 successive games.

While the Brazil international struggled to sparkle with Lyon, Chelsea will not come away from the game with fresh respect for Gary O’Neil’s side as they ran out 3-1 winners thanks to goals from Martial Godo, Diego Moreira and Joaquin Panichelli.

Current ETV

Endrick

F (C)

Lyon

Endrick

F (C)

Lyon

€39.9M

ETV Range

€35.9M - €43.9M

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Diego Moreira catches the eye

Belgium international Moreira was the star turn for Strasbourg on the right of their midfield, pulling the strings creatively and scoring the crucial second goal with a deflected shot from long range.

It’s not a role he habitually fulfils. The 21-year-old typically plays on the opposite flank but has been inverted since the arrival of O’Neil. On Sunday evening, he matched his October performance against PSG by scoring a goal and grabbing an assist in an eye-catching display. Big games, it seems, are his thing.

Of course, Moreira was particularly motivated by a previous spell at Lyon in which he did not get a chance to play.

“Over there, what did they call me? Agent 007,” he said in a Snapchat video shared by Chelsea-bound striker Emmanuel Emegha, referring to his goals, assists and Ligue 1 appearances.

“Nobody’s talking now.”

Endrick struggles as Lyon sink

Moreira’s performance entirely eclipsed that of Endrick, likely the player that Chelsea were more interested in watching prior to kick off.

Coming back from suspension, the 19-year-old Brazilian was also stationed out on the right wing, yet in contrast to his Belgium international rival in blue, whose impact on the game seemed constant, he was a shadow.

“I'm going to talk to Endrick about what he needs to improve, what he needs to do to find solutions to this situation. But that's what I do after every match,” Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca admitted.

“I know Endrick is the focus of attention, but what happened with Endrick is the same as what happened with the other players today.”

While Moreira was a bundle of energy, the Real Madrid youngster had no impact. Lyon captain Corentin Tolisso did not single him out, but hinted instead that the attacker’s physicality has to step up.

“It comes down to intensity, being present in duels. I’m also talking about attacking duels. We couldn’t win the ball,” he said.

Diego Moreira wins Endrick battle

Of course, Chelsea’s assessment of these two players will come down to far more than just a single game. Moreira has even been on the books of the Stamford Bridge club before, playing 45 minutes of a 2023 EFL Cup match against Wimbledon.

He was not deemed ready for a permanent place in the West London side’s squad at that point, but the Blues may be forced to reassess their thoughts on the player should he continue such form.

Certainly, he totally outplayed Endrick on Sunday, with the Real Madrid youngster’s form having dipped in recent games after an explosive start to life with Lyon.

If you had to pick one player who could make it at Chelsea based on the weekend’s clash, it would be Moreira and not the much-hyped Brazilian.