Vinicius Junior in stand-off over new Real Madrid contract

Negotiations over a new deal for Vinícius Júnior at Real Madrid have stalled, according to reports, with the Brazilian forward’s representatives unconvinced by the club’s latest offer.

The 25-year-old is currently under contract until June 2027 and earns around €17 million net per year, including performance-related bonuses. Madrid began discussions earlier this year in a bid to secure his long-term future, but talks have now slowed.

A meeting in May had initially raised optimism that a breakthrough was close, with both parties narrowing their positions. Vinicius’ camp had pushed for a fixed salary of €20m per season with the possibility of reaching €30m through add-ons.

However, reports say that Madrid’s final proposal was limited to €20m, without the additional incentives. His representatives – Fred Pena and Thassilo Soares – felt the improvement was insufficient to justify a three-year extension that would tie him to the club until 2030.

For now, the decision has been made to delay. Vinicius’ agents want to monitor how the 2025-26 campaign develops, particularly how new coach Xabi Alonso intends to use the Brazilian, before committing to fresh terms.

There are already signs that Alonso has considered reshaping his frontline. Multiple sources revealed that Madrid’s coach was weighing up leaving Vinicius out of the starting XI for July’s Club World Cup semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, favouring a two-striker system, before Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury forced a tactical rethink.

Vinicius eventually started, lining up alongside Gonzalo Garcia and Kylian Mbappe.

Madrid made their first approach to renew the forward back in February, despite his existing deal still running for another two years. The early move came after reports of Saudi Pro League interest in the player.

That prospect now appears dead. According to sources, there has been no contact with Saudi representatives since December 2024, and Vinicius’ entourage have ruled out such a switch.

The Brazilian enjoyed a landmark 2024, finishing second in the Ballon d’Or voting and claiming FIFA’s The Best Men’s Player award. But last season proved more difficult, as he managed 11 goals in 30 LaLiga appearances, and Madrid ended the campaign without a major trophy.

For now, Vinícius’ future remains tied to his existing contract, with both sides waiting to see how the coming months unfold before re-engaging in serious renewal talks.