Vinícius is being offered a billion euros: will Real Madrid really let their star go?

Is the Ballon d'Or out of the question?

Last season, Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior solidified his status as one of the world's best players. Unsurprisingly, the Brazilian’s name is among the top contenders for the Ballon d'Or in 2024.

The star's achievements from the royal club have not gone unnoticed in Saudi Arabia. There, they are ready to offer Vinícius an unprecedented amount in sports history and make him the face of the league leading up to the 2034 World Cup.

Details of the deal that’s driving everyone crazy

Al Ahli, who finished third in the championship last season, is prepared to offer Vinícius a billion euros over a five-year contract. This amount includes salary and various bonuses. According to The Athletic, Vinícius earns around 12 million euros yearly at Real Madrid, with his contract running until the end of the 2026/27 season.

If everything goes through and Vinícius moves to the Middle East, he will become the highest-paid athlete in history. For comparison, the contract of Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani with the Los Angeles Dodgers is worth 700 million dollars over five years. Next in line are Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr).

Additionally, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, which owns 75% of Al Ahli (as well as Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, and Al Hilal), wants to make the Brazilian the face of the national league as Ronaldo's career nears its end. The broader goal of the Saudi authorities is for Vinícius to stay in the country until the World Cup and become an ambassador for the tournament, which will take place in 2034.

What do Real Madrid and Vinícius himself think?

Real Madrid’s management's response to Al Ahli’s offer is transparent and predictable. Real will only negotiate if the Saudis pay the billion euros stipulated in Vinícius’s contract as a buyout clause. However, it’s believed that there’s room for negotiation on the compensation. After all, the 222 million euros paid by PSG for Neymar once seemed unimaginable.

Another exciting detail Globo Esporte highlights is that Vinícius carefully considers the potential move with an eye on the Ballon d'Or. He believes moving to Saudi Arabia could negatively impact the voting results, so the transfer might be postponed until 2025.

What are Al Ahli’s ambitions?

At the end of last season, Al Ahli qualified for the AFC Champions League immediately after returning to the top division. The squad includes renowned Brazilians Roberto Firmino and Ibañez, former Premier League star Riyad Mahrez, ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and Turkish defender Merih Demiral, who shone at Euro 2024. It's a severe lineup — the choice is up to Vinícius!

Published by Patrick Jane
13.08.2024