Journalist: Vinicius Jr’s ‘not so simple’ Real Madrid contract renewal | OneFootball

Real Madrid Contract Calm Masks Growing Stakes

At Real Madrid, contract negotiations are rarely just administrative. They become statements of hierarchy, intent and power. As The Athletic outlined in detail last week, the ongoing talks with Vinicius Jr sit squarely in that tradition. On the surface, there is calm. Beneath it, there is tension that Madrid understand all too well.

The club and the player’s representatives have been discussing a renewal for more than a year. Both sides want an extension, yet progress has been slow and occasionally strained. Vinicius Jr’s current deal runs until 2027, which removes immediate urgency but heightens strategic risk. Allowing such an asset to drift closer to freedom would be financially damaging, particularly given the forward’s commercial and sporting weight.

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Strategic Risk in Waiting Game

Real Madrid have no intention of sanctioning a summer exit. That much is clear. The choice, then, is binary, either agree fresh terms or accept the discomfort of entering the final season without renewal. That scenario is familiar at Madrid, and rarely comfortable.

The situation has eased slightly following Arbeloa’s appointment, which helped thaw a relationship that had previously stalled talks. The Athletic reported in November that Vinicius Jr had told club president Florentino Perez he would not renew while his relationship with Alonso remained difficult. That impasse no longer defines the conversation.

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Public Words and Private Distance

Vinicius Jr has been keen to project serenity. “I want to stay here for a long time,” he told TNT Sports Brasil after being named player of the match in Madrid’s 6-1 Champions League win against Monaco. “I have a year left on my contract and I’m very calm. I trust the president and he trusts me. We have a very good relationship, and we will reach an agreement at the right time.”

Privately, however, the gap remains significant. Vinicius Jr earns around €18million net per season. He has rejected an offer worth roughly €20m after tax and is seeking a package approaching €30m once bonuses and a renewal fee are included. Such a renewal bonus would be unprecedented at Real Madrid, and the board’s reluctance reflects long-held wage principles.

Power, Precedent and Patience

Madrid’s challenge is to balance reward with precedent. Vinicius Jr is already central to their present and future. Yet Madrid have always guarded against individual contracts redefining the structure. The coming months will test which value carries more weight.

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Real Madrid fans trust the club’s ability to resolve elite contracts, especially when both sides publicly express a desire to continue together. Vinicius Jr is not pushing for an exit, and that matters.

At the same time, supporters understand why the board are cautious. Madrid’s strength over decades has come from discipline. Once one player breaks the ceiling, others inevitably follow. Handing out an unprecedented renewal bonus could reshape the wage hierarchy overnight.

There is also a sense that Vinicius Jr’s importance is already recognised on the pitch. He is a face of the club, a decisive player in the biggest games, and someone fans feel emotionally connected to. Paying him accordingly feels justified, but not at the cost of destabilising the squad.

Most Madrid fans expect an agreement eventually. The belief is that compromise, rather than confrontation, will prevail. Calm negotiations suit Madrid, and history suggests patience usually pays off.