Real Madrid could be about to lose one of their biggest stars despite negotiations over an extension. According to AS, Saudi Arabia are pulling out all the stops to secure the services of Vinicius Jr. The aim is clear: to convince him to leave the Casa Blanca with an unprecedented financial offer.
For several months now, Saudi clubs have been targeting Vinicius Jr as their star recruit. Already last summer, a staggering offer of €1 billion over five years was made. A sum that would have made Vinicius one of the highest-paid players in the history of football, as well as giving him ambassadorial status for the country at the 2034 World Cup.
Despite this attempt, the player and Real Madrid categorically refused the offer. Vinicius preferred to remain loyal to the Spanish club, while the Madrid management immediately referred to his €1 billion release clause to discourage any takeover attempt. In recent days, however, there has been talk of a contract extension. Vinicius Jr initially turned down the Spanish club’s first offer before publicly revealing his choice after the victory over Manchester City in the Champions League play-offs.
‘It’s always a special moment to discuss a renewal with Real Madrid. My contract runs until 2027, but I’ve always said that my dream is to stay here as long as possible. I love this club, I want to make my mark on its history and continue to receive the affection of the fans, the president and the staff. That’s what motivates me every day. If everything goes well, I hope that in the next few days we’ll be able to sort everything out and make my extension official. Every time we play them, it’s a battle on both sides. But in the Champions League, we know we have something special. We’re expecting our fans in Madrid to push us towards qualification. Together, we’re going to make this an unforgettable match,’ the Brazilian international told TNT Sports Brazil.
‘We’ll sign it, whatever happens!‘
Far from giving up, the Saudi representatives remain convinced that they will eventually wrest Vinicius from Real Madrid. For them, this is a long-distance race, just like what happened with Kylian Mbappé between PSG and Real Madrid. After years of negotiations and twists and turns, the French striker finally gave in to the siren calls of Real Madrid. Saudi Arabia is hoping to apply the same strategy with Vinicius Junior.
‘There’s no rush. We’re going to approach this operation as a long-distance race, like the one that ended with Mbappé at Real Madrid. We’ll sign him, whatever happens,’ the Saudis told Vini Jr’s representatives at the time, according to the daily as.
Moreover, according to AS’s sources, Saudi Arabia has not said its last word. As early as next June, a new offensive will be launched with a record bid of over 300 million euros. A sum that would far exceed the historic transfer of Neymar to PSG (€222m in 2017) and could shake the Madrid management.
While Vinicius Jr has so far resisted Saudi offers, a number of factors could change that. An unbeatable financial offer: With a salary that would surpass anything in Europe, the economic appeal could weigh in the balance. Global recognition: Becoming the ambassador for the 2034 World Cup would be a unique honour for a player of his stature. There is also the new sporting challenge: even if the Saudi league is not on a par with La Liga, a number of big-name players have already set up shop there, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema and Sadio Mané.
Real Madrid on alert
Real Madrid are well aware of the Saudi interest in their Brazilian jewel. The club has always closed the door on negotiations, but an offer of more than €300 million could change all that. After all, Florentino Pérez is renowned for his ability to anticipate the cycles of football and could see this sale as a financial opportunity to prepare for the future.
For the moment, Real Madrid are hoping to extend Vinicius’s contract on a long-term basis, with a pay rise that would make him one of the club’s top earners. But pressure from Saudi Arabia is only just beginning, and could well disrupt the Merengues’ plans. One thing is certain: this explosive dossier will be one to watch very closely over the coming months!
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