So, it seems like Rodrygo Goes was the one everyone thought would be leaving Real Madrid this summer. But now, it looks like it might actually be Vinicius Junior who’s on the way out, especially with all this uncertainty about his future at the Santiago Bernabeu
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Recent reports say that Real Madrid and Vinicius have hit a bit of a wall when it comes to contract talks. Honestly, it doesn’t look like they’ll come to any agreement before the summer wraps up. With the 24-year-old's current deal running until 2027, people are starting to wonder what his future holds in the Spanish capital.
And guess what? This uncertainty could be just the opening that Saudi Arabia has been waiting for. They’ve been long-time fans of Vinicius, and while they backed off when it seemed he was set to sign a new contract, now they feel there's a chance to make a move.
Not too long ago, Real Madrid made it pretty clear they weren’t considering any offers for Vinicius. They emphasized that he’d only leave if someone activated that hefty €1 billion release clause in his contract. But who knows? Maybe their position has shifted. If it has, we could see a world-record deal happening before summer's end.
Since joining Madrid from Flamengo as a 16-year-old prodigy back in 2017, Vinicius has really come into his own and is now regarded as one of the top players globally. Sure, he didn’t snag the 2024 Ballon d'Or, but he did take home the Best FIFA Men’s Player award a few months later.
He’s always shown love for Madrid, but let’s be real—anyone would find it hard to turn down a jaw-droppingly lucrative contract from the Saudi Pro League.
It’s kind of funny, though—no one really knows which club might scoop him up. The league’s big players, like Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ahli, and Al Ittihad, are all under the control of the country’s sovereign wealth fund. Al Hilal seems like the most likely contender, especially now that Neymar has moved on.
Madrid is expected to point any interested clubs straight to that €1 billion release clause for Vinicius Junior. The only way around it? If he asks to leave, which is exactly what the Saudi Pro League is banking on when they throw their eye-popping contract offer his way.
If the rumors are true, this proposed deal could net him around €1 billion over five years—that's about €200 million a season, just under €17 million a month, and over €4 million a week.
Meanwhile, Madrid plans to sit down with Vinicius to chat about a new deal of their own. Right now, he’s making €20 million a year, which, let’s be honest, is still a fraction of what the Saudi proposal offers. So, what happens next? We’ll just have to wait and see.