Image Credits: Imago Images
It hasn’t been the smoothest campaign for Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid so far.
Despite the club sitting atop La Liga, the Brazilian winger often find himself being substituted in games or starting from the bench.
His public outrages at being taken off in games has not helped in the Spanish capital.
The situation has grown more complicated off the pitch, where contract renewal discussions have ground to a halt.
Vinicius Jr’s current deal runs until June 2027.
Madrid reportedly offered the Brazilian an improved package worth approximately €20 million per season after tax, but his representatives countered with demands for a historic contract approaching €30 million annually – matching the highest salary ever paid at the club, which was given to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Now, those talks have now stalled completely, with no progress made in recent months.
And according to the Athletic, the crux of the issue appears to be Vinicius Jr’s deteriorating relationship with head coach and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, who took charge at the Bernabéu in June after Carlo Ancelotti’s departure.
Mario Cortegana’s report claims that Vini Jr told club president Florentino Pérez in late October that he does not wish to extend his contract while his relationship with Alonso remains so strained.
The conversation took place after Madrid’s 2-1 Clasico victory over Barcelona, when the Brazilian went to apologise for his furious reaction to being substituted in the 72nd minute.
During that meeting, he made clear that committing his long-term future doesn’t make sense given his current situation with the manager.
With Vinicius Jr’s current deal having less than 18 months remaining and renewal talks frozen, it seems that Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid have a real dilemma on their hands.
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