Vinicius and the question mark about the future

Vinicus' contract with Real expires in 2027. Normally, negotiations for an extension should have started long ago. However, so far it has been delayed.

In February, Vinicius spoke excitedly about the contract extension negotiations. "I have always wanted to stay at Real for a long time, to make history and enjoy the affection of the fans, the President and the coaching staff. I hope that the negotiations will be completed in the coming days, allowing me to stay here for a longer time," the Brazilian star said.

However, according to AS, at that time Real only made exploratory steps. They approached agent Frederico Pena to find out the salary that Vinicius wanted. After that, the expected salary was given. And no further negotiations took place.

Vinicius was hoping to get €20m per season from the new contract. That's a slight increase from his current €15m/season salary, so it's perfectly acceptable. The problem is that the biggest star Kylian Mbappe is also on €15m/season. If Vinicius is to please, the balance will be broken, leading to a domino effect on Real's salaries.

Real Madrid are expected to open negotiations in 2026 in the hope that Vinicius will lower his salary expectations. However, they are in no hurry, as the Saudis who offered 1 billion euros for 5 seasons have withdrawn. Real Madrid are also waiting to see how things play out on the pitch, whether Vinicius will fit the tactical style of new coach Xabi Alonso or not?

Vinicius wants to stay at Real, but contract extension talks are on hold.

According to Spanish media, there have been cracks in the relationship between Alonso and Vinicius. In the 0-4 defeat to PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals, the Spanish coach intended to leave Vinicius on the bench, but was forced to change his plan when Trent Alexander-Arnold was suddenly injured.

Alonso is looking to change Real's style of play. Los Blancos have been notoriously reluctant to press when they lose possession and have made fewer runs than their opponents in heavy defeats. Mbappe and Vinicius have been criticised for their defensive indifference and their overall performance has been poorer than that of players like Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde.

Alonso can accept Vinicius' poor form at the Club World Cup, blaming it on a busy schedule or hot weather, but he cannot accept laziness and a negative attitude. Therefore, Vinicius' future depends not only on his salary, but also on his on-field performance in the coming period.