Trouble between Vinicius Jr and Real Madrid? Contract talks break down as Brazilian attacker demands higher salary than Kylian Mbappe but Spanish giants refuse to budge on latest offer

Madrid and Vinicius had been in contact over a new extension for the Brazilian striker, which would see him stay at the outfit till 2030. However, Mundo Deportivo reports the talks have stalled and no agreement has materialised. The reason behind the standstill is the Brazilian's demand for a higher wage of €30m (£26m/$35m), including a renewal bonus, which will make him the highest-paid Los Blancos player. The club, however, are not ready to adhere to his demands and are expected to delay the negotiations while also keeping the door open for a transfer this summer if suitable bids are placed on the table for Vinicius.

The 25-year-old joined Madrid back in 2018 and currently has two years left on that contract. Discussions were ongoing regarding a probable contract extension, but the talks have come to a halt with the striker demanding mind-boggling wages. While it is true that Madrid have offered him an appraisal, which will see him earn €10m (£9m/$11m) per season, they don't want to play into his demands, considering his recent downfall in performance, which was visible in the Club World Cup. In the competition, the Brazilian recorded a goal and an assist in six appearances, and if not for Trent Alexander-Arnold's injury, he would not have started against Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final, where he was subbed off in the second half after a poor outing.

Vinicius was a front-runner for the Ballon d'Or last year but ultimately did not win the award. Manchester City midfielder Rodri was bestowed with the prize and Madrid boycotted the Ballon d'Or event in protest. The attacker did not live up to the same standards in the 2024-25 campaign, with the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal far ahead of him in the running.

Los Blancos will soon start their preparations. With their request for the postponement of their first La Liga match against Osasuna rejected by the league authorities, the club are set to play their opener on August 19 at the Bernabeu.