Negotiations for a new contract for Vinícius Júnior at Real Madrid are currently at a standstill, according to a source for ESPN. There is a possibility that discussions won’t resume until after the 2026 World Cup.
Vinícius’ existing deal at the Bernabéu runs until June 2027, meaning the Brazil national player and Ballon d’Or runner-up could enter the final year of his contract without any clarity regarding his future.
Recent reports from ESPN suggest that Vinícius’ relationship with coach Xabi Alonso has soured over the past few months, with the player being excluded from the starting lineup on four occasions, and expressing frustration after being substituted during last month’s Clásico.
While the player’s renewal situation could still evolve, the source noted that no significant progress has been made recently.
In May, there was a near consensus between the club and the player’s representatives, which would have seen Vinícius earn €20 million ($23 million) per year, plus an additional €10 million ($11.6 million) in bonuses. However, Vinícius’ camp felt that Madrid’s final offer deviated from prior discussions and lacked promised bonuses.
Conversely, club officials believed a verbal agreement had been made, which was not formalized, leaving them feeling that the player’s representatives had not upheld their end of the negotiations.
As a result, discussions have stalled. Currently, Vinícius earns approximately €17 million ($19.7 million) per year.
Vinícius’ representatives think that accepting a mere salary increase for a contract extending until 2030 does not make sense given the prevailing circumstances.
Internally, Real Madrid remains optimistic about securing a new contract for Vinícius, who has won two Champions League titles and three La Liga championships and has developed into one of the top players globally since joining in 2018.
However, another source mentioned that senior club executives have not been pleased with the negotiation approach taken by the player’s camp.
Madrid initiated discussions with Vinícius’ camp earlier than usual—in February 2025—while he still had more than two years remaining on his contract after he garnered interest from the Saudi Pro League.
Multiple sources connected to both the player and the club have noted that the signing bonuses received by Kylian Mbappé have complicated Vinícius’ contract negotiations, as the Brazilian seeks parity with his teammate.
While the rapport between Vinícius and Mbappé is strong, the worsening relationship between Vinícius and Alonso is concerning.
After being substituted in the Clásico, Vinícius publicly apologized on social media for his behavior, without addressing the coach directly.
Despite these issues, he remains a key player for Brazil under former Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
ESPN’s Alex Kirkland contributed to this report.