Real Madrid have put Vinicius Junior up for sale. Yesterday, the Catalan media outlet Mundo Deportivo revealed that the residents of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium are ready to allow the Brazilian international to leave if they receive a substantial enough offer. This news came as a bombshell. However, according to The Athletic, the reality is quite different. On Tuesday, the British publication confirmed that Vini Jr’s close associates had insisted that they had not recently been approached by Saudi Arabia, and that the striker would be staying at Real Madrid for the 2025–26 season. The plan is therefore to move forward with a contract extension. However, Cadena SER reports that this has not progressed much since last winter.
According to the Spanish media outlet, Madrid’s management thought they had practically sealed the deal a few months ago. The plan was to offer him an annual salary of €20 million, excluding bonuses. However, circumstances have changed. Real Madrid bosses have no immediate plans to contact the 25-year-old’s agent. The agent has requested that his client’s salary be aligned with that of Kylian Mbappé before his protégé signs an extension. Therefore, the Vinicius Jr. clan is demanding €30 million per season, including a fixed amount of €25 million, with the rest in the form of bonuses. However, this does not sit well with Real Madrid, who do not want to see the salary scale explode.
The Vinicius Jr clan wants to earn as much or more than Mbappé
Although Florentino Pérez and Vinicius Jr. may still be able to resolve their differences, Cadena SER reports that the situation is becoming increasingly tense behind the scenes. “Real Madrid fans are starting to get tired of some of Vinicius’s behaviour. He’s not in a position to demand what Mbappé has. He’s giving Real Madrid reasons not to extend his contract,” commented Julio Pulido on Spanish radio. During the same programme, Santi Ovalle added, ‘If he hasn’t given in to these Real Madrid legends — Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos, who were asking for more money to extend their contracts — Florentino will accept an offer from Saudi Arabia and that’s it.’
Journalist Marcos López echoes the same sentiment: ‘The problem for Vinicius is that he suddenly feels left out at Real Madrid. He thought he was the king and the only star, but then they brought in Mbappé, and now he doesn’t fit in.’ Cadena SER believes the Brazilian is not in a strong position right now. ‘Vinicius has lost visibility in attack throughout the year. Mbappé started the year by scoring few goals, while the Brazilian carried the team. However, since the Ballon d’Or gala, Vinicius’ performances have dropped considerably and it has been Mbappé who has carried the team, even finishing as the league’s top scorer.’
Real Madrid keeps Rodrygo under wraps
In addition to overshadowing the Auriverde international on the pitch, KM10’s salary is causing a stir. ‘They bet on a player as important as Mbappé, and that has consequences. It creates an imbalance in the dressing room,’ explained Aritz Gabilondo on Cadena SER. I can see Vinicius thinking that Madrid is giving more to Mbappé,” explained Aritz Gabilondo on Cadena SER. Another consultant added, ‘The amount requested by Vinicius Jr is higher than when he was a candidate for the Ballon d’Or. Vinicius’s year has led to a drop in his value. Madrid has a star player in Mbappé; the transfer could go badly for Vinicius, who is at the wrong time to ask for more.’
Some believe that it is time to move on and let Vinicius Jr. go in order to avoid problems. ‘You put Mbappé on the left, sign a renowned striker, and you have a settled team.’ What is certain is that Real Madrid are taking the situation very seriously. The Spanish media also specifies that Florentino Pérez’s club will never pay two players such a salary. This could facilitate Vini Jr.’s departure. Furthermore, Cadena SER reports that certain club sources insist Real Madrid will not sell Rodrygo if Saudi Arabia makes an XXL offer for Vinicius Jr. It’s going to be a long summer in Madrid…