Real Madrid has run out of patience in its negotiations with Vinicius Jr. The club has informed the player and his representatives that there will be no new contract offers. He must either accept the current proposal or be placed on the transfer market this summer. This decision marks a dramatic shift in the relationship between the two sides and opens an unexpected short-term scenario.
Real Madrid, aware that the Brazilian’s contract expires in 2027, wants to avoid a situation similar to those experienced with other players who left on a free transfer. Therefore, the club believes that 2026 is the last opportunity to secure a significant transfer fee if the winger maintains his current stance.
For Vinicius, renewing his contract with Real Madrid depends on one condition: receiving the same salary as Kylian Mbappé. The Brazilian believes that his sporting impact in recent years justifies this demand, especially his decisive goals in recent European finals. However, the club understands that matching the Frenchman’s €30 million annual salary would disrupt the wage structure.
Tensions are rising at a time when the player is not at his best. The Brazilian has five goals and seven assists in 22 matches—numbers far below his usual average. This discrepancy reinforces the board’s argument, as they remain unconvinced by the financial investment demanded by his agent.
Real Madrid also finds itself in a different sporting context. Mbappé’s arrival has pushed Vinicius out of his role as the team’s main star—something the player has not taken well, generating internal dissatisfaction that the club is not hiding.
The role of Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso in the decision
Real Madrid’s coach, Xabi Alonso, holds a firm stance regarding Vinicius. He believes the Brazilian does not fully fit into the attacking structure he wants to build and has communicated this opinion to the board. His view carries weight within the club and strengthens Florentino Pérez’s position. The president understands that keeping a player who does not have the full support of the coach and demands a record salary could jeopardize other key operations for the project.
In this sense, the ultimatum is also a way to protect internal stability.
Sources close to the player say that Vinicius is unhappy with his reduced role and the treatment he has received since the beginning of the season. The shift in hierarchy after Mbappé’s arrival has changed his status, raising doubts about his future at the club.
