A few days ago, everything seemed crystal clear: Vinicius Junior had to extend at Real Madrid, seal his future until 2030, and continue to embody the future of the Merengue club. However, the illusion has dissipated. The discussions, announced as closed, are today questioned. And behind the scenes of Valdebebas, a fear rises: that of seeing the Brazilian slam the door. A potential earthquake, so “vini” had become, over the seasons, an essential face of modern Madrid.
The entourage of the player denied any significant advance in the talks. While the agreement was announced in the Spanish press, it is ultimately the English version – relayed by
The Athletic – who ended the euphoria. Vinicius would claim XXL conditions: 30 million euros in all, between salary, bonus and bonus. What to cool, perhaps, a real already jostled by the weight of certain salary sheets.
Vinicius plays the watch.
With 20 goals and 17 assists, the Brazilian remains a major player. But in a team where Mbappé has established himself as the new statistical leader, and where criticism was sometimes fierce, Vinicius seems to be losing serenity. Internal friction, external pressures, and a divided Bernabéu: all this weighs. And could accelerate a deeper reflection. Especially if the interest from Saudi Arabia or England was to revive.
Vinicius on departure? Real already activates a plan B
This blur also opens another track. Florentino Pérez has never hidden his admiration for Erling Haaland. And in the event of a departure from Vinicius, the option of the Norwegian cyborg would come back to life. A sign that nothing is frozen in Madrid, where the transfer window promises to be high voltage. Between the Mbappé, Ancelotti and Vinicius cases, the lines are ready to move.
Leaving Vinicius to spin, it would be more than a technical choice: a renunciation of a figurehead of the post-Benzema project. One more page to turn … maybe too early.
