Vinicius Jr's entourage 'strongly deny' new contract is close as Brazilian star demands Cristiano Ronaldo type deal at Real Madrid

Despite multiple Spanish media outlets suggesting that Vinicius Jr is on the verge of extending his stay at Real Madrid until 2030, those close to the player have firmly pushed back on such claims. The Brazilian star's entourage has strongly refuted any notion that a deal is close to being finalized, with the situation now appearing far less certain than previously believed.

While Real Madrid sources told The Athletic that contract discussions have been ongoing for some time and were generally known within the club, Vinicius’ representatives have disputed this narrative. They claim that no fresh offer has been submitted by the club following the player's initial counterproposal, which Madrid reportedly did not accept.

The first formal meeting regarding a contract renewal took place in late January, coinciding with Madrid’s Champions League preparations against Red Bull Salzburg. The summit was held at the club’s Valdebebas training facility and was attended by two of Vinicius’ agents and his father.

At that time, Madrid offered a base salary between €15 million (£12m/$17m) and €20m (£17m/($23m) annually, a figure close to the €17m (£14.5m/$19m) Vinicius currently receives when bonuses, such as individual awards like FIFA’s The Best, are factored in. This wage level is on par with what Kylian Mbappe earns in fixed salary terms. However, the French forward’s overall compensation is higher, primarily due to a hefty signing bonus he secured when joining Madrid from PSG as a free agent.

Vinicius Jr did not accept Madrid's initial offer, and after rejecting it, the club asked the winger to outline the terms he would find agreeable. According to sources, the 23-year-old wants to secure a landmark deal that would place him among the highest-paid players in club history, similar to the terms once awarded to Cristiano Ronaldo. This would mean a total financial package in the realm of €30m per year, encompassing salary, various performance bonuses, and a renewal signing bonus - something that would be unprecedented in Real Madrid’s contract policy.

According to The Athletic, should Vinicius ultimately depart, club president Florentino Perez already has a dream successor in mind: Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker, who was once a Madrid target before opting to join City in 2022, remains highly admired by Perez. Haaland recently signed an extension at City that runs through 2034, making any potential transfer extremely complicated and expensive. Still, Perez views Haaland as the ideal player to fill the void if Vinicius were to move on.

Interestingly, Vinicius Jr’s representatives and family were in Madrid for the club’s recent Champions League quarter-final second leg clash against Arsenal on April 16. Despite their presence at the Bernabéu, there was reportedly no attempt by Real Madrid to reopen contract negotiations or schedule further discussions during that time. The player and his entourage remain calm and confident, but have made it clear that further dialogue must come from the Madrid hierarchy.