Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior can become the highest-paid footballer on the planet by a giant margin if he agrees to leave Europe for the Saudi Pro League, reports said. The Brazilian, who was the Ballon d'Or runner-up behind Rodri, has an opportunity to earn up to €200 million a year for five years, if he inks the deal, the reports added.
🚨 Are you aware of Real Madrid upset for Vinicius new deal timing? Ancelotti: “No, I’m not”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 14, 2025
“Questions about Saudi and Vini are not for me. He’s happy and he wants to make history at Real Madrid. That’s what I see”. pic.twitter.com/sQIDQSyA1k
Real Madrid cannot match the proposal but remain confident that Vinicius Jr would choose glory over money. Donning the club's famous white shirt is a dream come true for most players and leaving Europe would diminish the chance of winning the Ballon d'Or in future. So, he is likely to extend his stay at the Spanish capital, the defending European champions hope.
Will Vinicius Jr leave Real Madrid?
Meanwhile, another report claimed that Vinicius Jr is open to staying in Madrid if the Los Blancos are willing to make him their highest earner. In his new contract, Vini wants him to offer a salary higher than that of his teammates Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, English media reports said. His current contract runs out in 2027 but Real are likely to open extension talks with the 24-year-old in the light of pressure from Jeddah.
Saudi Pro League officials have been tracking Vinicius since 2023 and the "€1 billion for five years" is the latest deal they have put on the table to lure him. Neymar deciding to leave Al-Hilal for Santos means the Riyadh-based club would also join the bid to bring the Real star on board.
FULL REPORT | Neymar, Al Hilal terminate contract. Here is the paycut he will take to move to Santos
What is Saudi Arabia offering Vinicius Jr?
It was reported that Vinicius personally held a discussion with Saudi officials last year and expressed his satisfaction in the project they offered. Marca Radio claimed that after Vinicius spoke to the delegation personally, his aids and intermediaries virtually met with "very important figures from the Royal House of Saudi Arabia" to take the discussions ahead. The objective was to persuade Vini to leave Europe and among the offers was the opportunity to become an ambassador for the FIFA World Cup that will be hosted by the desert nation in 2034.
Marca Radio claimed that Vinicius' agents met personally with Saad Al Lazeez, who is the vice president of the Saudi Pro League in Prague for a second round of meetings. The report added that apart from failing to fulfil his full potential, the attacker is concerned about being labelled as a footballer motivated by money if he says yes to the deal. Saudi Arabia wants to know his decision by next summer but Vinicius Junior is nowhere close to making a call as things stand, the report added.
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Real Madrid are currently leading La Liga with 15 rounds left to play. They are on the verge of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 after having beaten Manchester City 2-3 in the first leg in England.
