Real Madrid and Brazil forward Vinicius Jr has reportedly hit a stumbling block when discussing his contract extension with Los Blancos chiefs – and the 25-year-old’s eye-watering demands have been revealed alongside the club’s potential replacement.
At the time of writing, Vinicius – widely regarded as one of the best wingers in world football – has terms that expire in the summer of 2027 but, amid a chasm in what he financially deserves, his representatives have stepped away from the negotiating table.
Talks have come to an end for the foreseeable future, though there is a chance that Vinicius and Real Madrid’s boardroom bosses can reach an agreement in the coming months, thus putting an end to any speculation over a potential exit.
Vinicius’ Wage Demands Revealed Amid End in Real Madrid Contract Talks
The Brazilian’s potential replacement has been identified
But what is Vinicius, who was signed from Flamengo as a fresh-faced teenager in 2018, demanding Los Blancos cough up on a year-by-year basis? Alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham and Luka Modric, he has been one of the club’s most important players in years gone by – and he is well aware of that.
According to reports, as relayed by GOAL, Real Madrid’s fleet-footed winger holds a sense of frustration with the assumption that a deal was close to being done. In his eyes, the conversation about renewing his contract is currently not on the cards.
Vinicius, born in 2000, is of the belief that he deserves much more money than his La Liga employers are currently offering, which is reported – by journalist Tono Garcia during a segment on El Larguer – to be €20 million (£17.5m) per year.
Sources close to the Brazilian claim that he is currently holding out for a €25 million-per-year deal. For reference, in pounds, that would see him earn £22m annually – and his figure is, in his eyes, reflective of what he is capable of offering the La Liga heavyweights.
In 2024/25, in a season where Carlo Ancelotti’s side went trophyless, the 41-cap Brazil international notched 41 goal involvements (22 goals and 19 assists) in 58 matches. All in all, across 322 outings for the Spanish outfit, he’s managed to rack up 106 goals and a further 83 assists. This summer, Ancelotti has been replaced by Xabi Alonso; whether the Brazil international has a place under the Spaniard remains to be seen.
Should the two relevant parties not find a breakthrough in contract talks, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez already has a contingency plan in place: and that is securing the signing of Manchester City and Norway marksman Erling Haaland, according to Cadena SER, via GOAL's report.
The Los Blancos chief dreams of utilising Haaland – alongside Kylian Mbappe – as their focal point. Although the striker’s signature would not come cheap, the club would be willing to burn a hole in their financial kitty if they lost one of their most marketable and effective players in Vinicius.