According to Flamengo’s president, Luiz Eduardo Baptista, the club currently lacks the financial capability to bring back Vinícius Júnior.
The Brazilian side recently made headlines by signing their former midfielder Lucas Paquetá for a record fee of €42 million (£37m, $50m), marking it as the highest transfer in North and South American football history.
However, the situation is different when it comes to Vinícius, who left Flamengo for Real Madrid in 2018 for a reported fee of €45 million.
“Bringing Vini back is not a possibility for Flamengo,” Baptista stated in an interview with Diario AS.
“I’m certain that if a transfer was to occur for Vinícius Júnior, it would involve a salary significantly higher than we considered for Paquetá,” he added.
“At this moment, that scenario is not feasible. He’s still beyond Flamengo’s reach. Not yet. Flamengo is not there yet.”
Vinícius, 25, has recently expressed his desire to remain with Real Madrid past 2027, when his current contract expires.
Nonetheless, discussions regarding an extension of his contract have stalled.
– Ranked: Best and worst manager jobs for clubs and national teams
– Endrick ‘decision taken’ to return to Real Madrid – agent
– Brahim Diaz an able replacement for Jude Bellingham despite unfamiliar role for Real Madrid
When asked whether this provided Flamengo with any hope for Vinícius’s return, Baptista replied: “Vinícius will always be welcome. Whenever he comes to Brazil… we adore Vini. However, Vinícius wishes to remain in Europe.”
“Paquetá and Vinícius are in different stages of their lives. Paquetá has someone at home [in Brazil] waiting for him every day, he has a family. Conversely, Vinícius does not have anyone waiting for him at home [in Madrid].”