Real Madrid nears Vinicius contract extension amid Saudi interest

Photo: Reuters

Real Madrid is close to finalizing a contract extension with Vinicius Jr. after starting discussions in January. This comes amid interest from Saudi Arabia, where officials had hoped to bring the FIFA Player of the Year to a record-breaking deal. Despite Vinicius Jr.’s current contract running until the end of the 2026-27 season, Real Madrid contacted his agents last month to discuss updating his deal. This move aims to prevent Saudi Arabian clubs from making a serious attempt to sign the talented Brazilian forward, whose value has been growing since his performances last season.

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Although there have been multiple inquiries from Saudi Arabia about transferring Vinicius Jr. to Al Ahli, a formal contract offer was never made. In recent months, Saudi Arabia's confidence in signing him has faded. Vinicius Jr. himself has denied any serious talks with Saudi clubs, telling TNT Sports after Real Madrid’s Champions League victory over Manchester City that no one has spoken to him about an offer. He emphasized that any such offer would need to go through Real Madrid’s president, and he expressed his hope to remain at the club for a long time.

Vinicius Jr. also shared his excitement about renewing his contract with Real Madrid. Even though his current contract runs until 2027, he has always expressed his desire to play at the club for many more years and achieve more success. In October 2023, Real Madrid extended his contract for four years, reportedly worth a net 13.5 million euros per season. Instead of a typical long-term contract, he chose a shorter deal with performance-based incentives, believing it would better reflect his growth as one of Europe’s top young players.

After a standout season where Vinicius helped Real Madrid win both the La Liga title and the Champions League, as well as being named FIFA’s Player of the Year in 2024, he triggered several performance bonuses that raised his salary to one of the highest at the club. Sources close to the team say his salary is now comparable to new signing Kylian Mbappé’s, who earns around 18 million euros a year, though Mbappé’s deal includes a significant signing bonus and a large share of his image rights.

Vinicius Jr.'s family and representatives have met with Real Madrid executives in recent weeks to discuss the new terms. Both parties are hopeful that they can soon agree on a new contract extension. The next meeting is set for next week, and there is growing optimism that a deal will soon be reached.

A close source to Vinicius said that he is not interested in moving to another European club and would only consider offers from Saudi Arabia if they exceed one billion euros. Interestingly, Vinicius Jr. has developed a strong business relationship with Saudi Arabia, participating in various commercial and sponsorship activities in the country, such as tourism and E-sports events. He is also being considered as a potential ambassador for the 2034 World Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia.