Vinicius Junior’s long-term future at Real Madrid has become one of the biggest off-pitch stories of the season — and a fresh report claims the Brazilian has now set a clear time limit for a breakthrough.
According to a report in Spain, Vinicius wants a definitive answer on his contract extension before April, and is prepared to start exploring a summer exit if there is still no agreement by then.
Why this matters right now
Vinicius’ current deal runs until June 2027, which means Real Madrid are approaching the point where allowing negotiations to drag on becomes risky. A player of his status entering the final year without clarity can quickly turn into a market problem — either you renew on your terms, or you face serious pressure to sell.
Real Madrid signed Vinicius as a teenager from Flamengo in a deal agreed in 2017, with the move taking effect in July 2018 for a reported £38 million fee. Since then, he has grown into one of the faces of the project — and the numbers underline it. Data providers list him at 354 appearances and 113 goals across his Real Madrid spell so far.
What’s holding the renewal up?
The central issue is money — and structure.
Real Madrid are widely reported to be careful about breaking their wage hierarchy, while Vinicius’ camp believes his importance should be reflected at the very top of the salary ladder. Managing Madrid, citing Cadena SER, reports Vinicius is seeking around €30m net per season, while also noting the situation has not materially moved despite changes around the club.
At the same time, the atmosphere around him has been complicated. There have been recent tensions with sections of the Bernabéu crowd, and Spanish reporting has pointed to a visible emotional impact in how he has reacted on the pitch.
A timely reminder of his value
Whatever is happening off the field, Vinicius has been reminding everyone why Real Madrid want this resolved sooner rather than later.
This season, he’s posted 32 appearances, 7 goals and 11 assists in all competitions (to date), numbers that can still rise sharply during the business end of the campaign. And his Champions League performance against Monaco — including a goal and assists — was widely framed as the kind of night that swings moods back in his favour.
It also aligns with what Vinicius has said publicly in the past: in March 2025, Reuters quoted him saying he was calm because his contract runs until 2027 and that he wanted to renew “as soon as possible.”
What happens next?
If the “April deadline” report is accurate, the next weeks could be decisive. Real Madrid have two clear priorities:
- Protect the sporting project: Vinicius is still a trophy-level difference maker, and the club’s best version is usually the one with him firing on the left.
- Protect the institution: Madrid rarely allow one player’s demands to reset the entire wage structure, because it can trigger a chain reaction across the dressing room.
For now, the most realistic outcome is still a renewal — but this is no longer a conversation both sides can afford to let drift. One way or another, the club’s No. 7 is pushing for clarity — and Real Madrid’s board will know that clarity is exactly what their squad planning for 2026 depends on.
