Real Madrid have indicated they may consider selling Vinicius Junior this summer if a new contract agreement cannot be reached soon, according to reports in AS. The 25-year-old Brazilian forward is entering the final year of his current deal at the Santiago Bernabéu, raising concerns about the possibility of losing him on a free transfer next summer.
Despite previous suggestions of a potential breakthrough, no formal agreement has been announced regarding an extension for Vinicius. The club are reportedly setting an ‘expiration date’ for negotiations, aiming to resolve the situation before or after his participation in the 2026 World Cup. While discussions are currently focused on a renewal, Madrid are prepared to ‘consider other options’ if progress stalls.
Sources suggest that responses from Vinicius’ camp have been ‘more wishful thinking than concrete action’, although Real Madrid remain ‘optimistic’ an agreement can still be reached. A key sticking point has been financial terms, with Vinicius reportedly seeking a salary potentially exceeding that of Kylian Mbappe, the club’s current highest earner. Image rights are also proving to be a complicated aspect of the negotiations, given the player’s significant commercial value.
Vinicius Junior has publicly expressed his desire to remain with Real Madrid, stating in May that he wants to stay with the club for ‘his whole life’. This sentiment is echoed by the club hierarchy, with president Florentino Perez keen to retain his star player. However, the financial demands and image rights complexities are creating obstacles. Real Madrid have previously contemplated Vinicius’ departure and even considered allowing his contract to run down, though this would result in a substantial financial loss.
Interest in Vinicius has been reported from Saudi Arabian clubs, while Premier League sides such as Manchester City and Chelsea were previously offered the opportunity to sign him through intermediaries when contract talks were at a low ebb. While a renewal remains the expectation, the possibility of a sale before the end of the summer cannot be ruled out if negotiations deteriorate further. Such a move would guarantee Real Madrid a transfer fee for their prized asset.
