AS: Vinicius sets his price

The Brazilian star has now responded to the Real Madrid’s first proposal, with negotiations now at a crucial stage.

Vinicius' renewal is officially underway. Real Madrid has reached out to the player’s agents to determine the financial demands for extending his contract, which is set to expire in 2027, sources involved in the negotiations have told AS. Those same sources confirm that Vinicius has already provided an answer, and the club is now expected to respond.

The talks have reached a boiling point. Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in luring the Brazilian star to its domestic league has forced Real Madrid into action – despite originally planning to wait until next summer, when Vinicius would have entered the final two years of his contract.

His previous contract extension, signed in 2022, was not officially disclosed until over a year later, on October 31, 2023. This time, discussions came to light due to a slip by Vinicius himself in the mixed zone at the Etihad Stadium. Asked about his future by Brazilian journalist Tatiana Mantovani for TNT, the forward did not hold back: “It’s very exciting to open talks with Madrid about my renewal,” he said, drawing attention to the situation. “I have a contract until 2027, but I’ve always said I want to play here for a long time, to make history, to feel the love of the fans alongside the president, my teammates, and the coaching staff. If God wills it, hopefully, the negotiations will be resolved in the coming days, and I can stay here for much longer.”

AS has obtained exclusive details of the contract Vinicius signed in 2022. The deal was for five seasons, running through 2027. He agreed to a net salary of €75 million ($80.5 million) over the contract’s duration - an average of €15 million ($16.1 million) per season – in a progressively increasing structure. He started earning approximately €10 million ($10.7 million) annually, a figure set to rise to around €18 million ($19.3 million) by the contract’s end. Additionally, a clause grants him an extra €2 million ($2.1 million) per season over the final two years of the deal due to winning FIFA’s The Best award (the same bonus would have applied for a Ballon d’Or victory).

“We will sign Vinicius no matter what”

Madrid is treading carefully to maintain a salary balance among its top three stars - Vinicius, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappé. Currently, both Vinicius and Mbappé earn approximately €15 million ($16.1 million) net per season. However, Mbappé also received a signing bonus of around €40 million ($42.9 million), effectively adding another €8 million ($8.6 million) per year to his earnings. Meanwhile, Bellingham’s camp has started making moves to improve his contract, as his current salary - between €8 million and €10 million ($8.6 million to $10.7 million) per season – no longer reflects his impact on the team.

AS previously revealed Saudi Arabia’s astonishing offer to Vinicius: $1.07 billion over five years. It’s clear that Madrid will never match such a figure – just as it’s clear that Vinicius has no intention of leaving. However, the forward wants recognition for his global superstar status, particularly after last summer’s events. Back then, a member of Saudi Arabia’s investment fund requested a meeting with Florentino Pérez. The Madrid president refused, directing them instead to the player’s €1 billion ($1.07 billion) release clause. Eventually, a phone conversation took place between the Saudi representative and club CEO José Ángel Sánchez. “Vinicius is not for sale,” Madrid insisted.

That was the end of the matter – for now. But sources close to the player warn that another push is coming this summer. “We will sign Vinicius no matter what,” Saudi officials have reportedly assured his camp. Madrid, aware of the looming threat, is determined to settle the renewal before then.