It was just 11 months ago that Vinicius Junior found himself in pole position to win the Ballon d’Or and become the first Brazilian player since Kaka to claim the most glamorous individual award in world football. Instead, Rodri beat him to the punch, claiming the award after a season that saw him win the Premier League title with Manchester City and the European Championship with Spain.
This shock and disappointment paved the way for an underwhelming 2024/25 season, with the forward often drifting
in and out of games and struggling to gain a handle on proceedings. Once the team’s franchise player, Vini now found himself having to play a backstage role to new arrival Kylian Mbappe, who, after nearly a decade of flirting with a move to Real Madrid, finally joined the club on a free transfer.
With Mbappe often hugging the left side of the pitch and demanding the ball be played into his feet, similarly to Vinicius, it’s fair to say that the two players took a while to strike a bond. Both players demand the spotlight, and neither have particularly shown a willingness to drop from talisman to facilitator, hence the lack of chemistry. It’s why Vinicius struggled to recreate his world-class form, going from 24 goals and 11 assists in 39 games in 2023/24 to 22 goals and 19 assists in 58 matches in 2024/25.
This has been reflected in several ways, from a declined FIFA rating to a decreased Transfermarkt value, but perhaps the most noticeable once has been his on the pitch. Whereas Carlo Ancelotti always included his superstar forwards Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo in the frontline, often at the expense of team balance, Xabi Alonso has shown no fear whatsoever in shaking things up.
After a middling display in their season opener vs. Osasuna, Vinicius dropped to the bench vs. Real Oviedo. He replaced Rodrygo with a half-hour left and bagged a goal and an assist to lead them to a 3-0 victory, before scoring the go-ahead goal in a 2-1 win vs. Mallorca. However, after struggling to deliver against Real Sociedad, he once again returned to the bench in their UEFA Champions League debut vs. Marseille, with Mbappe, Arda Güler, Rodrygo and new signing Franco Mastantuono starting up top in a 2-1 win. He was back in the starting XI against Espanyol, but apart from his assist for a goal that was 99% Mbappe, Vini struggled in 1v1 duels and also failed to test the goalkeeper.
Vinicius was replaced with a quarter-hour left during the hydration break and exploded in fury at his substitution, throwing a water bottle on the ground. Alonso had to calm him down and grab his arms to explain the situation, but he wasn’t able to prevent Vini from going straight to the dressing room after the match. “Today, he was lacking the goal…I removed him in his best moment and perhaps I could’ve waited a bit longer to sub him off, but we needed fresh players,” stated Alonso after the game.
The Brazilian would have been infuriated that, in each of his four starting appearances, he hadn’t lasted the full 90. This finally changed on Tuesday, with Vinicius playing the full duration of the match vs. Levante and racking up one goal and one assist in a 4-1 win. However, he might also be apoplectic about his current contract situation. Vini last renewed his deal in October 2023, tying him down to a contract through 2027. But now, the 25-year-old wants a contract that will see him earn as much money as Mbappe, prompting negotiations to stall.
Currently banking around €17 million net per season, including bonuses, Vinicius has reportedly aimed to increase that to €20 million per season, with variables that could increase that figure up to €30 million. However, Real have reportedly held firm with an offer of €20 million, without including the extra €10 million in bonuses. It begs the question: Is Vinicius’s head in Madrid? Moreover, should Real be considering selling him in 2026?
“When you look at the business aspect of things, the stadium project…when someone offers you a billion dollars, you have to really entertain it,” stated ex-MLS midfielder Michael Lahoud. “Especially when you have other pieces, when you have a player like Mbappe with Ballon d’Or quality who can be the main man…show me the money.”
Last season, there were rumblings of a potential offer from the Saudi Pro League which would see Real Madrid bank a record-breaking €350 million offer, and that would see him earn €1 billion across five years. Whilst those rumours have cooled down ever since, it’s evident that as long as Real and Vinicius fail to agree on a new deal, Saudi football could loom large as an escape route for both parties. Time is running out for Vinicius as he looks to prove himself as a long-term asset for Los Blancos.
