Vinicius Junior’s Real Madrid future in doubt after one key demand rejected
Vinicius Junior was once seen as untouchable at Real Madrid but that reputation is beginning to fade.
What started as quiet planning for a long-term extension has now turned into silence and stalled meetings.
Vinicius, who still has two years left on his current contract, is reportedly demanding a €30 million [$35m] annual salary and a large signing bonus to stay at the club.
According to Football Espana, this figure has not gone down well at the Bernabeu, where officials have yet to make a formal approach since the initial offer months ago.
There was early talk of a deal being wrapped up before the new season, possibly locking him down until 2030.
But no real progress has followed, and Vinicius himself is said to be in no rush to reopen the conversation.
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His camp is standing firm, believing his value on and off the pitch justifies the numbers.
Vinicius Junior’s form is a factor tooWhen Kylian Mbappe arrived last year, Vinicius was forced to adjust and take on a new role and where he managed 11 goals in 24 league starts.
The Brazilian failed to make an impact this season, in stark contrast to the previous one, where he finished second in the Ballon d’Or voting behind Rodri.
His performances have drawn mixed reviews, especially from new manager and former Liverpool player Xabi Alonso, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti in June.
After Real Madrid were thrashed 4-0 by PSG in the Club World Cup semifinal, Alonso was said to be disappointed with several senior players, including Vinicius.
At the same time, Saudi Arabia hasn’t stopped calling. According to multiple reports, Vinicius met Saudi league officials in Prague in 2023, including vice president Saad Al Lazeez.
The gulf nation is now reportedly offering him a five-year deal worth £830 million [$1B], along with a 2034 World Cup ambassador role.