Vinicius Junior’s future at Real Madrid has been thrown into doubt after the Brazilian made it clear he does not intend to sign a new contract while his relationship with head coach Xabi Alonso remains strained.
According to multiple sources close to the situation, Vinicius has already communicated his stance directly to Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, raising serious questions about the long-term union between the club, coach, and one of its biggest stars.
The meeting with Florentino Perez
The key conversation took place late last month, shortly after Madrid’s 2-1 Clásico win over Barcelona on October 26.
Vinicius had reacted furiously to being substituted by Alonso in the 72nd minute, storming off the pitch and shouting: “Always me, I’m leaving the team, it’s better if I leave, I’m leaving.”
Feeling he had crossed a line, the Brazilian went to see Perez to apologise for his behaviour during the game.
In that meeting, however, the discussion went far beyond an apology. Vinicius used the opportunity to express his deep frustration with his situation under Alonso. They relayed that, in the current circumstances, he does not believe renewing his contract is the best option for him.
Sources say there has been no change in that position since.
How the relationship with Alonso broke down
Tension between Vinicius and Alonso did not suddenly appear after the Clásico. Its roots go back to Real Madrid’s 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-final on July 9.
For that match, Alonso had initially planned to bench Vinicius. An injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold forced a reshuffle, meaning Vinicius started – but on the right wing, not his preferred left-side role.
Since then, Vinicius has felt increasingly sidelined. He has completed only five of Madrid’s 17 games in all competitions so far this season and has started on the bench four times, including Sunday’s 2-2 draw away at Elche.
The Brazilian believes Alonso’s decisions have not been fair to him, especially given his status in the squad and his previous influence under Carlo Ancelotti.
Apologies, but a pointed omission
After his angry outburst in the Clásico, Vinicius apologised twice: once privately in front of the dressing room, with Alonso present, and once publicly via social media.
However, his open letter on social media raised eyebrows inside the club. In that message, Vinicius mentioned Perez and other figures at Madrid – but did not refer to Alonso by name.
Sources close to the player say that omission was intentional. It was noticed by the club and coaching staff and viewed as another sign of the fractured relationship between the star player and the coach.
Alonso, for his part, has tried to downplay any personal rift in his press conferences, insisting that there are no issues between the two and that squad rotation is essential. Yet his frustration with the constant noise around the situation has become increasingly visible.
Contract situation: from historic offer to total standstill
Vinicius Jr’s current deal runs until June 2027 and includes a €1 1billion release clause. He signed fresh terms in 2022, which were officially announced a year later, and currently earns around €18million net per season.
Talks over a renewal began in January. Real Madrid put forward an improved offer that would have raised his salary to approximately €20million net per year. When that proposal was not accepted, the club invited Vinicius’ camp to present their own numbers.
His representatives responded with a demand for a historic contract, comparable to the most lucrative in Real Madrid history – including the level once given to Cristiano Ronaldo. The package discussed would reach up to €30million per season, combining base salary, performance bonuses and, crucially, a renewal bonus.
That renewal bonus would be something new for Madrid, as it has not typically been offered to players in this way.
Some interest also arrived in 2024 from a delegation linked to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which explored the idea of taking Vinicius to the Saudi Pro League on huge wages. Those talks, however, never progressed into a formal offer.
Further renewal discussions took place before the start of the current season, but have now stalled completely. The club recognises that the difficult dynamic between Vinicius and Alonso is now a major obstacle to closing any extension.
Negotiating tactic or genuine stance?
From the outside, some may view Vinicius’ refusal to renew as a bargaining chip in negotiations, especially given the big financial demands on the table.
But people close to the Brazilian insist that his position is not simply about money. They say he genuinely feels that, while his relationship with Alonso remains this strained, it makes little sense to commit his long-term future to the club.
Within Real Madrid, the stance has not come as a total shock – the tensions have been visible for months – but it has certainly raised concern at the highest levels. Vinicius is a central figure in the club’s sporting project, and seeing him so unsettled is far from ideal.
What it means for Real Madrid
For now, Vinicius Jr remains under contract until 2027, so there is no immediate risk of him walking away for free. But top players rarely allow such situations to drift without resolution.
If the relationship between Alonso and Vinicius does not improve, Madrid may be forced into uncomfortable decisions in the coming months:
- Try to repair the relationship and restart renewal talks
- Consider a blockbuster transfer in the future if no agreement is possible
- Or reassess their trust in Alonso if dressing-room harmony becomes too damaged
What is clear is that one of Real Madrid’s biggest stars has sent a powerful message: under the current conditions, with his coach, he is not ready to commit his future to the club. For a team that prides itself on stability at the very top level, that is a storyline that will not disappear quietly.