Vinicius Junior's Real Madrid future plunged into doubt as Brazilian winger rejects 'too small' contract extension offer

Despite being tied down until 2027 on a deal worth around €17 million (£15m/$20m) a year, Madrid chiefs want to secure Vinicius'services for three more years, taking him through to 2030. His representatives have demanded a fixed wage of €20m (£17m/$23m) per season, with the potential to rise to €30m (£26m/$35m) through performance bonuses. However, Madrid have only offered a flat €20m salary with no add-ons, which Vinicius' camp deems 'too small' to warrant an extra three years, as reported by ESPN.

Rather than rush into a deal, Vinicius’ camp has decided to bide their time and assess how the new season unfolds under manager Xabi Alonso. The 25-year-old will monitor his role in the squad before committing his future, especially after whispers emerged that Alonso nearly dropped him for the Club World Cup semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain in July.

Had Trent Alexander-Arnold not pulled out late, Alonso was prepared to gamble with a two-striker system, which would have left Vinicius on the bench. Instead, Federico Valverde was shifted to right-back, handing Vinicius a reprieve as he joined Mbappe and Gonzalo García up front. Real ultimately lost the game 4-0.

Just months ago, Real Madrid acted swiftly to initiate renewal talks as rumours swirled of Saudi Arabian interest in Vinicius. But that threat has since vanished as no fresh approaches have been made since December. While Vinicius remains a global star, last season’s performances did little to strengthen his hand at the negotiating table. He scored 11 goals in 30 league appearances in an underwhelming campaign as Madrid ended the year without lifting any major silverware.

Vinícius will get the chance to silence doubters and reassert his value when Real Madrid kick off their new La Liga season against Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday night. A strong display in the upcoming campaign could be the first step in strengthening his bargaining power with the Madrid power brokers when they meet again in the summer of 2026.