Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Amanda Langell

Major ‘Contract Twist’ Determines Vinicius Junior’s Fate at Real Madrid

The stalled contract talks between Real Madrid and Vinicius Junior are reportedly coming to an end, with the club making re-signing its No. 7 a top and urgent priority.

The Brazilian, whose current deal expires in June 2027, has been in negotiations with Los Blancos since January. Little progress has been made, though, with the two sides thought to be disagreeing over a proposed salary—Vinicius Jr is reportedly asking for €30 million ($34.6 million) per season.

To make the situation worse, the winger put all talks on hold due to his devolving relationship with current manager Xabi Alonso. Reports claimed Vinicius Jr told club president Florentino Pérez that extending his contract is “not the best option” for him as long as he remains on tense terms with the new boss.

Yet the standoff is thought to be coming to an end. AS report Real Madrid are confident in renewing Vinicius Jr’s contract and they have no plans to “keep letting time pass” without locking down the superstar forward.

The dialogue is “continuous” between the club president and the player, and the two have discussed the importance of securing Vinicius Jr’s future in a white shirt. There is a strong possibility an extension will “appear on the horizon.”


Real Madrid Face Several Contract Decisions in 2026

David Alaba, Antonio Rüdiger
Question marks surround the futures of David Alaba (left) and Antonio Rüdiger. | IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire

Even if Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr finally agree to a new deal, the club still has several decisions to make about its current squad, starting with David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger. The two defenders are out of contract at the end of the season, and will likely not be offered extensions due to fitness concerns.

The Spanish giants also must decide what to do with Ferland Mendy, another defender who spends more time in the infirmary than on the pitch. The Frenchman is under contract until June 2027, as are Dani Ceballos and Fran García.

With Los Blancos in the market for a deep-lying playmaker and a center back, they will have to take a hard look at the out-of-favor players taking up space on Xabi Alonso’s bench.

Still, securing Vinicius Jr’s signature, ideally without a historic salary attached to the Brazil international, remains the top priority for the 15-time European champions.


Player Age End of Contract
Antonio Rüdiger 32 June 30, 2026
Dani Carvajal 33 June 30, 2026
David Alaba 33 June 30, 2026
Vinicius Junior 25 June 30, 2027
Brahim Díaz 26 June 30, 2027
Thibaut Courtois 33 June 30, 2027
Fran García 26 June 30, 2027
Dani Ceballos 29 June 30, 2027

READ THE LATEST REAL MADRID NEWS, TRANSFER RUMORS AND MORE


This article was originally published on www.si.com as Major ‘Contract Twist’ Determines Vinicius Junior’s Fate at Real Madrid.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.