Vinicius wants Mbappe's wage, Real not budging

Vinícius Junior has said it several times: “I hope to renew my contract as soon as possible, I want to continue making history with this club.” He usually says that whenever rumors start swirling about interest from the Arab world or when the locker room atmosphere isn’t ideal. But this game of rumors, social media posts, and denials from Real Madrid can't go on forever—nor has it benefited anyone. This time, if he starts pushing too hard, Vini could be the one to lose out. Everything was supposedly set for a contract renewal that runs until 2027, with only the announcement pending. But the player suddenly changed his mind and asked for a lot more money—according to Spanish media, a yearly salary of 25–30 million euros.

Real Madrid officials were surprised, believing they had already offered him excellent terms. However, Vini wants to be financially on par with Kylian Mbappe. This threatens to spark a salary war that Florentino Perez wants no part of. Journalists close to the club are now relaying a message to the Brazilian: don’t lose your head—this kind of strategy could only lead him toward the exit door. Vinícius’s earnings have increased steadily since he arrived in Madrid seven years ago. He signed his first professional contract on his 18th birthday, with one of the lowest salaries in the first team. That changed significantly in 2022 when he signed a star-level extension, earning around 15 million per year. Now, he’s asking for almost double that. It’s not a good time to make special demands.

Saudis ready to splash hundreds of millions an break world record for Vinicius Jr!

After a stellar 2023–24 season, Vini lost his shine in the most recent campaign. It coincided first with the arrival of a new teammate from France and then with him falling out of the Ballon d’Or race. Kylian Mbappe, without even dazzling on the pitch, disrupted the locker room hierarchy at Real. For years, he has shown that his cool head allows him to control his game, his career—and even people around him (including coaches and presidents). In a psychological showdown with the Frenchman, Vinícius has no chance of winning. On the other hand, the Brazilian—who endured brutal racism from crowds calling him a "monkey" and became the self-appointed leader of the anti-racism fight—began to fade when that same public started taunting him with “beach ball” jeers. If Mbappe managed to dethrone him in Madrid, then Rodri stole the trophy Vini thought was rightfully his. Vinícius has forgotten how to live in someone else's shadow. He needs the spotlight to thrive.

He's going nowhere! Legacy at Madrid stronger than hundreds of Saudi millions

Xabi Alonso's plans remain unknown, but with Carlo Ancelotti’s departure, Vini has lost a vital paternal and protective figure. The new coach doesn’t appear to tolerate his whims and tantrums as easily, and might not hesitate to bench him from time to time. Vini is no longer untouchable, and he can only prove himself on the pitch—which he hasn’t done recently. That’s why it’s entirely believable that Florentino Perez is weighing the financial pros and cons of keeping or selling him this June. And here come the Arabs again. Back in February, there was talk of a massive offer: 300 million for Real and a jaw-dropping 1 billion euros package for the player himself, which would have made him one of the highest-paid athletes on the planet. Now, there are reports of an even higher offer—350 million—from Saudi Arabia to bring Vinícius to one of their clubs.

Vini's social media outburst: 'No one is going to tell me how I should behave!'

Former Barcelona technical secretary and now sporting director of Al-Ittihad, Ramon Planes, recently said that Vinícius has all the qualities to play in the Saudi league and that he wouldn’t rule out such a move. However, football insiders working on the Arabian Peninsula insist that at least half of the so-called Saudi offers are fake—fabricated by agents trying to inflate their clients' value. Real Madrid isn’t fond of this game—real or not. Looking back at similar situations in the past, the club’s stance is clear. The most recent example is Sergio Ramos—captain, leader, and club legend—who tried negotiating based on a supposed offer from China. When that deal fell through (if it even existed), Real told him the offer on the table had expired. From Alfredo Di Stefano to Cristiano Ronaldo, history shows that no one is sacred once they start playing hardball over money with Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, the club is especially baffled because they feel Vinícius’s demands don’t align with the season he just had—he’s not in a position to apply pressure. The only thing he has in his favor is youth. Most similar standoffs in the past involved aging legends, not players in their prime. But there’s a first time for everything. Finally, there are the fans—many of whom are starting to feel that Vinícius is not untouchable. While they still see him as one of their own, they’re tired of the constant tension he creates and his unmanageable personality. And despite decent stats, he didn’t show up in the season’s biggest matches—he even got booed at the Santiago Bernabéu. This is definitely the worst time to be negotiating. And if there was ever a moment ripe for a transfer, it’s now. Still, Real is trying to “discipline” him by sending indirect warnings: distance yourself from people filling your head with nonsense—and above all, remember that greed has buried the legacies of many once-promising legends.