- Vinícius Júnior has struggled for Real Madrid since Xabi Alonso took over from Carlo Ancelotti.
- The Brazilian star has reportedly told the club he won’t renew his contract, with his situation with Alonso up in the air.
- At 25 years old, the Ballon d’Or runner-up would be highly touted by many clubs.
Real Madrid ace Vinícius Júnior has reportedly told the club he won’t renew his contract while he has an unstable relationship with manager Xabi Alonso.
If Vinícius Júnior decides to leave the Spanish giants, he would have no shortage of suitors.
Vini Jr. Has Yet to Play 90 Minutes Under Xabi Alonso
The news was broken on Monday morning that Vini Jr. is thinking of leaving Real Madrid.
It comes after Vini Jr. came on as a substitute in the 57th minute of a 2-2 draw at Elche, where he had just 18 touches and lost possession ten times. Real still leads La Liga by a point over Barcelona, but they needed a massive Jude Bellingham goal to snatch a point.
Vini Jr. is yet to play a full 90 minutes under Alonso, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti after a terrific stint at Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. The Brazilian has still managed five goals and four assists in La Liga but doesn’t have goal contributions in the Champions League.
As a former Real Madrid player, Alonso knows the high standards of the club, but this issue with Vini Jr. threatens to undermine his reign. Vini Jr. made his feelings known after being substituted in the 72nd minute of Real’s 2-1 win over Barcelona on October 25, saying:
“Always me, I’m leaving the team, it’s better if I leave, I’m leaving.”
Vini Jr. apologized to club president Florentino Perez, but he also claimed he wouldn’t renew his contract while this situation with Alonso remains troubling. His current contract expires on June 30, 2027. However, if the atmosphere becomes untenable, Real could be forced to sell the Brazilian, so they don’t lose him for nothing.
But if he does decide to leave Real Madrid, where could Vini Jr. end up?
Where Could Vini Jr. Play Next?
Despite his struggles, Vini Jr. is still a top player. Vini Jr. finished second in Balon d’Or voting to Manchester City’s Rodri in 2024, causing the entire Real Madrid team to skip the ceremony.
If Vini Jr. decides to leave the Spanish giants, there will be many clubs lining up for his services. He’ll demand a high salary, so that means the big clubs have an edge. However, Vini Jr.’s current contract has a staggering $1 billion release clause, and no club in the world could pay that.
Or could they? There is a lot of money in Saudi Arabia, and Al-Ahli reportedly offered Real almost $400 million in October 2025 to sign the 25-year-old. You could also consider Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City among those interested.
It’s a situation worth keeping an eye out for as the season wears on. Vini Jr. has spoken of his desire to make history at Real Madrid, but will he get the chance? Could Alonso be fired to keep Vini Jr. happy? Will the two work it out? We will likely find out by the end of this season!
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