Real Madrid will have a plan in place if Vinicius Junior moves to Saudi Arabia

A year after Saudi Arabia publicly attempted to sign the Brazilian, the future of Real Madrid and Vinicius Junior remains uncertain. Rumors of a Middle Eastern move have cooled this summer, but Real Madrid and Vinicius have yet to reach an agreement.

With only two years remaining on his contract, Real Madrid is running out of time. If he doesn’t renew by next summer, Real Madrid will be forced to risk losing him or selling him at a reduced price.

Why Vinicius Junior Didn’t Renew His Contract with Real Madrid?

Following a meeting with Saudi Arabia in February, reports first surfaced in March that Vinicius Junior had agreed to a contract extension with Real Madrid. A few months later, rumors of the Brazilian player died down, but by June, news broke that no agreement had been signed. The reason for this is Vinicius Junior’s demand for a salary at least as high as, or even higher than, that of Kylian Mbappé, the star player who joined last summer. Real Madrid’s Contingency Plan for Vinicius’ Departure

However, Real Madrid has not ruled out the possibility of Vinicius leaving. According to Cadena SER, through its managing director, Vinicius’s departure would lead to a move for Manchester City star Erling Haaland. President Florentino Perez has long dreamed of pairing Mbappé and Haaland at the Bernabéu, which could open the door to a transfer for the Norwegian star.

Vinicius’s Negotiating Position

Real Madrid had attempted to sign Haaland before his departure from Dortmund, but Haaland’s contract with Manchester City runs until 2034, making a move more difficult. However, agent Rafaela Pimienta has consistently stated in the past that she would offer clients future options.

Last summer, Vinicius could have easily commanded a similar rank to Mbappé, but while the Frenchman struggled to adapt, Mbappé’s performance last season was much higher. Vinicius had some good performances last year but since the end of the 2023-24 season he has shown only flashes of a player who could be in contention for the Ballon d’Or, which has weakened his competitiveness.