Vinícius Junior
Why Vinícius Junior Isn’t Renewing His Contract with Real Madrid

The Brazilian wants a massive salary – but his performances raise big questions.

Real Madrid’s campaign at the FIFA Club World Cup ended in disappointment. The team was thrashed 4–0 by PSG in the semifinals, falling short of expectations. At the same time, the club is struggling to agree on a contract extension with forward Vinícius Junior – whose recent form has left many fans underwhelmed.

What's Holding Up the Contract Talks?

The issue seems to be Vinícius’ demand for a substantial pay rise. The Brazilian reportedly wants around €30 million per year plus a signing bonus. According to The Athletic, this is the main reason negotiations have stalled. Vinícius is currently under contract until the summer of 2027, but Madrid is pushing to extend the deal through 2030.

Interestingly, in late June, journalist José Félix Díaz reported that the deal had already been agreed and was due to be announced after the Club World Cup.

“Real Madrid is the club of my life! I hope to stay here for many more years. I love Real Madrid and owe everything to this club. Pressure and criticism don’t bother me. I’m very happy here – with the club, with our new coach Xabi, and with my teammates,” Vinícius told reporters after the group stage of the Club World Cup.

Club president Florentino Pérez added: “Vinícius is one of the best footballers in the world. Contract extension? Honestly, the president has very little influence in this process.”

Why Is Xabi Alonso Unhappy?

Even before the tournament began, Marca reported that new head coach Xabi Alonso was eager to speak with Vinícius. The Spanish coach wanted to explain that playing for the team isn't just about goals and dribbling.

Alonso was concerned that Real Madrid’s attacking trio wasn’t doing enough off the ball during the 2024/25 season. He’s willing to give creative freedom to one player – but not to all three. His philosophy is simple: every player must sacrifice for the team. Passive defending is something he won't tolerate.

During the Club World Cup, Alonso made it clear that defensive work is non-negotiable: “We all have to defend – all 11 players must be involved. Our back line must be compact. The fewer spaces we leave, the better. We need to improve this. We’re working on it – and that includes Vini.”

Alonso has repeatedly pointed out Vinícius’ poor pressing, lack of defensive effort, and general passivity without the ball. But even on offense, the forward hasn’t been at his best.

On April 6, Vinícius scored in a La Liga match against Valencia (1–2). Since then? Six league matches without a goal (missing two due to injury), one goal in two legs against Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinals, none in the Copa del Rey final loss to Barcelona (2–3 AET), and just one in six Club World Cup games. That’s two goals in 15 matches over three and a half months. Including Brazil’s national team, it’s three goals in 17 games.

What’s Bothering Vinícius?

This poor run of form couldn’t have come at a worse time – right in the middle of contract negotiations. During the Club World Cup, fans booed Vinícius, prompting him to remove all mentions of Real Madrid from his social media profiles.

There’s also the issue of his position on the field. According to COPE, Vinícius was unhappy about being deployed on the right wing in the match against PSG – a position he finds uncomfortable.

Former Real Madrid assistant coach Davide Ancelotti had this to say: “Vinícius helped us win. He scored in two Champions League finals. He’s brought us many victories, and I personally am very grateful to him. But top players often need some kind of friction. Some handle it like Messi or Maradona. Others, like Cristiano Ronaldo, create conflict. But off the pitch, Vinícius is a different person – a man with a big heart.”

Madrid is increasingly concerned about Vinícius’ current form. The Brazilian is a shadow of his former self. Marca reports that Alonso plans to have a heart-to-heart with the forward to understand what’s going on. Vinícius is said to be working hard in training, but it’s not translating onto the pitch.

“Mbappé and Vinícius are the key players in our attack,” writes Marca. “But if everyone is playing for themselves, the team collapses. The issue isn’t chemistry – it’s that their teamwork needs serious improvement. That much was obvious against PSG.”

What Are Spanish Experts Saying?

Here’s what football journalists and analysts – including 1978 World Cup winner Mario Kempes – are saying about the situation:

Ramón Álvarez de Mon: “We’re seeing a very underwhelming version of Vinícius. He’s not playing like a true star – more like someone with star potential. The problem isn’t that he isn’t working hard; it’s that he’s contributing so little to the attack.”

Pedro Riesco: “In the PSG game, Madrid’s players were focused on personal goals, not the team. They failed to respond well to adversity. Vinícius has been frustrated since missing out on the Ballon d’Or. He can’t control his emotions.”

Latigo Serrano: “We can’t expect players like Asensio or Fran García to carry the team. That responsibility belongs to Mbappé and Vinícius. Alonso needs to talk to them. If they won’t follow his instructions, they should sit on the bench. I don’t think Vinícius knows how to handle his emotions.”

Raúl Fuentes: “Xabi Alonso’s biggest challenge is convincing Vinícius to run and defend. He’s no longer Real Madrid’s main star – that title now belongs to Mbappé.”

Ricardo Reyes: “Can Alonso convince both of his attacking stars to press and defend as a unit? That’s the big question. Luis Enrique managed to get PSG’s stars to buy in. Can Xabi do the same?”

Mario Kempes: “Vinícius is a phenomenal talent. But he plays more for the crowd than for his teammates. From what I’ve heard, there are problems in the dressing room. He’s forgotten how to enjoy the game. I don’t like that he’s focused on everything except football.”

Published by Patrick Jane
17.07.2025