Al Hilal CEO confirms Saudi league’s interest in Real Madrid superstar: ‘If he’s available…’ | OneFootball

The future of Vinicius Jr. continues to attract global attention, and the latest comments from Saudi Arabia have only added to the growing speculation. 

Esteve Calzada, CEO of Al Hilal, has confirmed that the Saudi Pro League is closely monitoring the Real Madrid winger as part of its wider recruitment ambitions.

Saudi football has been expanding its influence steadily, targeting some of the biggest names in world football. 

The strategy has already brought several European stars to the region, and the next phase appears focused on players still at the peak of their careers. 

Among those high-profile targets are Mohamed Salah from the Premier League and Vinicius from Real Madrid.

Pursuing Vinicius

Calzada clarified that while Al Hilal are not currently negotiating for the player, he made it clear that the league itself remains interested. 

“In our case, there are no talks, but the CEO of the Saudi league, whenever asked, says that if he’s available, he’ll try to bring him in,” he told SER.

Saudi league is still interested in Vinicius. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

As reported before, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund is keeping a close watch on Vinicius’ situation. 

They plan to continue testing the market and attempt to lure elite European stars with financial packages that few clubs can match.

Vinicius’ case is particularly delicate because his long-term future at Real Madrid is not fully settled. 

Saudi will not bow out

His contract runs until 2027, but renewal talks have encountered obstacles, mainly due to financial disagreements. 

While the club still sees him as a central figure in their sporting project, negotiations have proven more complex than initially expected.

Sportingly, Vinicius remains untouchable, as he is viewed as one of the pillars of the current and future squad. 

Yet the financial muscle of the Saudi project presents a different kind of challenge. The sums available through the PIF are on a scale that most European clubs simply cannot compete with.