Just when it looked like Real Madrid and Vinicius Junior were finally headed for a contract renewal a new twist has unfolded. The Brazilian winger's current deal expires in the summer of 2027 and there's a desire from the player and the club to extend his stay at the Estadio Bernabeu.
Vinicius has bounced back from a difficult spell under former manager Xabi Alonso in which he was largely blamed for his dismissal. He has bagged one goal and three assists in three games under Alvaro Arbeloa including a man-of-the-match performance in a 6-1 thrashing of AS Monaco.
The 25-year-old has been at the Bernabeu since 2018 and broken records season after season. But his contract situation has been a distraction for the club and the winger who claimed after the Monaco win that he wanted to stay in the Spanish capital.
Vinicius' Real Madrid future thrown back into doubt
Vinicius reportedly turned down a contract offer from Madrid a year ago and demanded a €30m salary of which the club ruled out. He headed into this season with question marks over his future and his issues with Alonso suggested he was seriously considering a departure.
Alonso's exit has ultimately led to a U-turn and it seems he is prioritising remaining with Los Blancos and signing a new deal. That doesn't mean he won't be targeted this summer though and he's back on the Saudi Pro League's radar.
According to Ben Jacobs of talkSPORT, Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli are keen on signing Vinicius and are prepared to offer him a contract worth over €1 billion. That is an astonishing amount of money, and if it is put on the table, it would be a real test of the Brazilian's loyalty to Madrid.
As revealed last year, Saudi dealmakers eyeing up Vinicius Junior as one of their main targets for summer 2026.
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) January 22, 2026
Real still want the Brazilian to extend but talks put on hold when Xabi Alonso was at the club.
Al-Ahli the main Saudi club discussed for Vini Jr with a €1bn… pic.twitter.com/t6eMFrxGT5
The Brazil international has been a Saudi Pro League target for many years and is one of several high-profile European stars the Middle Eastern league is eyeing this summer. His representatives have been in ongoing talks with Saudi officials for over a year.
Saudi Pro League given encouragement over Vinicius deal
Vinicius made clear his desire to remain with Madrid when he spoke after the Monaco win. He told reporters (via ESPN):
"I want to stay here for a long time. There's also a lot of talk about my contract renewal because I have another year left. We're very relaxed about it. I trust [Real Madrid president Florentino Perez], and he trusts me. We have a very good relationship, and we'll sort things out at the right time. We're in no hurry to do that."
But reports claim that the Saudi Pro League have been given "private encouragement" that a transfer could occur, despite the player's public stance that he wants to commit his future to Madrid. It's a setback for Los Blancos because the positivity about the likelihood of a renewal allowed fans to relax and avoid constant talk about his future.
Vinicius will need to focus on his football with his side still battling it out with Barcelona for the La Liga title. Arbeloa's men are a point behind the Catalans and are still competing in the Champions League as they prepare for the knockout stages.