Real Madrid are set to kick off their new La Liga season with their opening match against Osasuna on August 19 at Santiago Bernabeu.
Along with a few departures, Los Blancos also welcomed some new faces, including Dean Huijsen and Franco Mastantuono, to their squad this summer. However, doubts have surfaced over some of Real Madrid’s existing stars, and one such name is Vinicius Junior.
Vinicius arrived at Santiago Bernabeu from Flamengo in 2018, and his current contract there is set to expire in the summer of 2027. However, Real Madrid and the Brazilian star have reportedly been struggling to reach an agreement over a new deal.
Earlier reports suggested that Vinicius has not been intentionally responding to Real Madrid’s latest offer for a deal, which was once believed to have been finalised by both parties.
The main reported issue behind the disagreement is believed to be Vinicius not agreeing with the overall pay that Real Madrid are willing to offer him. The 25-year-old star is currently earning around €17m per annum, which is the second-highest salary in the Los Blancos squad after Kylian Mbappe.
Real Madrid were willing to offer a deal worth €20m per year, which would mean a raise of around 15% for Vinicius. However, the fee falls short of what the winger’s agents, Fred Pena and Thassilo Soares, demand, which is the same salary, but with the inclusion of an extra €10m in bonuses per year that could take his overall earnings to a maximum of €30m per year, as per ESPN.
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Vinicius’ representation reportedly believes that the rise in wages offered by Real Madrid is not enough to justify him signing a deal until 2030.
What’s next for Real Madrid and Vinicius Junior?
Real Madrid reportedly initiated talks over a new contract with Vinicius in February when he attracted interest from Saudi clubs. However, the reported transfer interest have gone down.
ESPN’s report also suggested that Vinicius and his agents are also anticipating how new Real Madrid head coach, Xabi Alonso, uses Vinicius on the pitch this campaign, especially after rumors surfaced that the Spanish manager could have benched the winger during the Club World Cup semi-final.
Vinicius’ representatives are also reportedly worried about the role of the media during negotiations and their impact on public opinion.
Vinicius netted a total of 22 goals and provided 19 assists in 58 appearances across all competitions for Real Madrid last season.
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