Vinícius in limbo: Renewal talks stalled at Real Madrid as transfer pressure mounts

Vinicius Jr.’s future at Real Madrid is more uncertain than ever. His poor performances at the end of the season and during the Club World Cup—combined with his negative attitude on the pitch—have created a tense atmosphere within the club. This tension could directly impact the contract extension that once seemed all but finalized.

The Brazilian winger has been openly criticized by fans for his lack of pressing and apparent inability to build chemistry with new arrival Kylian Mbappé. Since the Frenchman’s debut, Vinicius’ form has sharply declined, raising doubts about whether he can return to the elite level that once had him in the Ballon d’Or conversation in 2024.

Midway through last season, Madrid was rocked by reports of a massive offer from Saudi Arabia aiming to make Vinicius the face of the country’s sports ambitions. The deal would have made him the highest-paid athlete in the world and would’ve brought Real Madrid a windfall of over €300 million.

At the time, Vinicius’ strong commitment to the club and public comments in favor of renewing his deal helped calm the rumors. A few months ago, the situation seemed stable: Vinicius, under contract until 2027, was reportedly on the verge of extending his deal until 2030. All that was left was the official signing, expected after the Club World Cup.

However, that changed on Sunday when Spanish radio outlet COPE raised alarms by reporting, “There is no renewal agreement between Vinicius and Real Madrid,” citing sources close to the player.

On Monday, journalist Jorge Picón backed that claim, stating that the renewal talks have stalled and no announcement is expected for the remainder of the summer. According to Picón, discussions could resume next season—by which point Vinicius would have just two years left on his current deal.