Vinícius Júnior stated on Monday that he intends to sign a contract extension with Real Madrid “at the right time” and expressed his desire to remain with the club “for many years” as they prepare for this week’s prestigious Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Bayern Munich.
The talented forward has shown remarkable performance lately, netting four goals in two matches against Manchester City and Atlético Madrid prior to the international break.
The Brazil international’s current contract at the Bernabéu is set to expire in June 2027. His future had been a topic of speculation following a challenging season that saw him at odds with former coach Xabi Alonso—now succeeded by Álvaro Arbeloa—and a scoring drought that lasted three months, which he has since overcome.
“I hope to be here for a long time,” Vinícius said during a news conference on Monday when discussing his contract. “I still have a year remaining, so there’s no anxiety. I have the support of the president [Florentino Pérez], and we are calm about our intentions.
“When the time is right, we’ll discuss the renewal, and I’ll be here for the long haul. This is the club of my dreams; I’m happy here, and I want to stay for many more years.”
Vinícius has been pivotal for Madrid, having scored in two Champions League final victories in 2022 and 2024, and was named the runner-up in the Men’s 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Despite his contributions, he lost his guaranteed starting position under Alonso during the first half of the current season and faced jeers from fans at the Bernabéu after Alonso’s departure. Reports from ESPN indicated that Vinícius, among other veteran players, had dissatisfaction with Alonso’s coaching style.
“It was a challenging period,” Vinícius reflected. “We played many matches, but I didn’t get much playing time. Every coach has their approach, and I struggled to align with what [Alonso] wanted. It was an opportunity for growth—I learned a lot, and my teammates were very supportive. I reflected on my experiences, improved as a person, and now I have a fantastic rapport with Arbeloa.”
Vinícius faced significant backlash after a heated reaction to being substituted by Alonso during October’s Clásico victory over Barcelona at the Bernabéu, after which he issued a public apology that did not directly mention the coach.
“It was an unpleasant moment,” he acknowledged on Monday. “I apologized to my teammates, the club, the coach, and everyone involved. I’m committed to every match and didn’t want to come off. I believed I was performing well, but with time to reflect, I realized I made a mistake. Each day presents a new chance for growth and improvement.”