VINICIUS JR demanded a salary in line with Cristiano Ronaldo’s final Real Madrid contract earlier this year, according to reports.
The Brazilian winger’s contract is set to expire in the summer of 2027.
Keen to renew last year’s Ballon d’Or runner-up, Real Madrid chiefs opened talks with Vinicius Jr’s representatives during the second half of last season.
According to The Athletic, the 25-year-old star was offered £17.5million per year – an increase on his current £15.8m annual salary after tax.
When the deal was turned down, Real chiefs are said to have asked for a number to be suggested.
They add that the two-time Champions League winner’s representatives came back with £26m per year as their number.
This would be approximately in line with Ronaldo‘s last contract at Real Madrid – the most lucrative in the club’s rich history.
Talks subsequently paused, with further complications having since entered the mix.
Vinicius Jr is said to have a strained relationship with boss Xabi Alonso, and reportedly will NOT sign a new deal while the Liverpool legend remains in charge.
The star man has featured in every match across LaLiga and Champions League this term, but has only completed the full 90 minutes twice.
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This situation came to a head during the 2-1 El Clasico victory over Barcelona.
Coming off with his side in the lead, Vinicius Jr huffed: “Always me, I’m leaving the team, it’s better if I leave, I’m leaving.”
Following his side’s win, Vini apologised – but did not mention his manager throughout the statement.
Alonso, 43, subsequently sought to play down the episode.
The Real Madrid boss said: “For me, it was a very valuable, very positive statement, in which Vinicius showed honesty.
“For me, what matters is what he said to his team-mates, the club, the fans. For me, the matter is closed.”
Despite reported tension between the pair, Alonso made Vinicius Jr captain for Real’s trip to Kairat Almaty earlier this term.
The Selecao superstar has been earmarked as a potential marquee Saudi signing for some time now.
Al-Ahli has been mooted as his possible destination should a Middle East move actually come to fruition.
Saudi chiefs were said to be considering a staggering £302m swoop for the wide man during the summer.
The move would have been a new world transfer record, surpassing the £200m paid by Paris Saint-Germain for Neymar in 2017.
It even topped Al-Hilal’s failed £257m bid for then-PSG star Kylian Mbappe, now a team-mate of Vinicius Jr’s, in 2023.
