Rabat – Vinicius Junior’s contract with Real Madrid runs until June 2027, but negotiations over a new deal remain stalled.
Talks began more than a year ago, yet little progress has been made.
Madrid are heading for a second straight season without a major trophy. Knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich and trailing Barcelona by nine points in La Liga, the club is under pressure.
Coach Álvaro Arbeloa is unlikely to survive the summer, becoming the third manager dismissed in this period.
Against this backdrop, Vinicius has become a lightning rod for criticism. He was whistled again by sections of the Bernabéu during Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Alavés, even after scoring a stunning goal.
His gesture of apology to the crowd summed up the uneasy mood.
From the player’s side, the issue is financial. Vinicius earns around $17 million net per season, close to Kylian Mbappé’s salary.
Madrid’s current offer is $20 million, but his agents pushed for a package closer to $30 million last year, including bonuses and a renewal payment, something the club has never granted. Talks have not advanced since.
Despite the gap, Vinicius wants to stay. Leaving this summer is unlikely, as a free transfer in 2027 would guarantee him a bigger salary elsewhere.
A strong World Cup with Brazil could also strengthen his hand in negotiations.
Madrid, meanwhile, remain confident. Club sources insist the extension will happen, pointing to the close relationship between president Florentino Pérez and the player.
Pérez defended Vinicius after his angry reaction to being substituted by Xabi Alonso earlier in the season, a clash that contributed to Alonso’s dismissal. Arbeloa has since backed the forward publicly, helping improve his form.
Still, the financial standoff is real. Madrid’s wage structure is rigid, designed to avoid exceptions that could unsettle the squad.
Past stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos eventually renewed on favorable terms, but both later left when the club refused further concessions.
For now, Vinicius remains Madrid’s main attacking threat, with 12 goals and seven assists under Arbeloa.
Yet the whistles show how divided the fanbase is. His future is tied not only to his performances but also to whether Madrid bend their rules to keep him long term.
