Tensions are growing between Vinicius Jr and Real Madrid, with a split between the two sides starting to feel more likely.
It once seemed like a perfect partnership. Vinicius Jr made his name at Real Madrid the hard way, moving from Brazil for a large fee, getting demoted to the reserves, and fighting his way up to become one of the best players in the world. Now, it feels like the relationship is heading toward a difficult break-up.
Recent comments from football analysts suggest the same, indicating doubt about Vinicius Jr’s long-term future at the club.
If the 25-year-old decides to leave Xabi Alonso’s team, it would likely become one of the most expensive departures in football. The question is how the situation reached this point and what comes next.
Some Way Off an Agreement
The root of the issue between the player and the club is money. Vinicius Jr wants a contract similar to Kylian Mbappe’s, but Real Madrid are unwilling to offer him the reported €600,962 per week.
His current contract expires in the summer of 2027. Earlier this year, several reports suggested that a new deal was close, but the player’s entourage denied those claims. Negotiations stopped, and talks have been quiet since then.
His frustrated reaction when he was substituted during their 2–1 El Clasico win did not help the situation. Reports suggest that the club want to make it clear that no player is bigger than the team.
Despite this, Real Madrid still hope to secure a new contract for him and avoid a scenario similar to Paris Saint-Germain’s difficulties with Mbappe.
Who Could Afford Vinicius Jr?
If he refuses to sign, and Real Madrid decide to sell him next summer, the fee would likely exceed €100 million. Any club trying to sign him would also need to cover extremely high wages over the length of his contract.
A few Premier League clubs might manage it — Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, or possibly Liverpool — but many English clubs are moving away from huge wage contracts and prefer performance-based deals.
Paris Saint-Germain could afford him, but they do not currently need a left winger and have moved away from a superstar-focused strategy.
The other possibility is Saudi Arabia. For more than a year, Vinicius Jr has been linked with an offer worth around €1 billion over five years, or approximately €200 million per season.
Saudi clubs are not required to follow the same financial rules as European teams, and the lack of personal income tax makes such an offer even more appealing.
However, the Saudi Pro League is not on the same competitive level as Europe’s top leagues, so the question is whether Vinicius Jr would accept leaving elite football at this stage of his career.
Who Could Replace Vinicius Jr at Real Madrid?
Selling Vinicius Jr could actually solve a tactical issue for Real Madrid. Mbappe prefers to play on the left side but has often been used as a central striker to fit both players into the starting XI.
If Vinicius Jr leaves, Mbappe would naturally move into his preferred role. That raises the question of who would take the central striker position. The obvious name is Erling Haaland, who has been linked with a move to Spain ever since arriving in the Premier League.
However, Haaland recently signed a nine-year contract at Manchester City, and it is unrealistic to expect City to negotiate an easy deal for such a player.
There is also a shortage of top-quality strikers on the market, as many of them moved to new clubs this past summer. Real Madrid do have a strong internal option: Endrick. The club invested roughly €60 million in him, and giving him more minutes could be the most sensible choice, just as they once did with Vinicius Jr.
Verdict
Vinicius Jr is facing a difficult situation. His wage demands make it unlikely for him to stay in Europe if he leaves Real Madrid. At the same time, he has not fully justified such a salary level with his recent performances.
A move to Saudi Arabia appears increasingly possible in the near future.