Saudi Arabia to launch another attempt to lure one of Real Madrid’s biggest stars | OneFootball

Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr. has once again found himself at the centre of transfer speculation. 

According to a report from SPORT, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund are monitoring his situation closely and are prepared to test the waters in their ongoing effort to attract elite European stars.

Vinicius’ case is particularly sensitive because his future at Real Madrid remains unresolved. 

Notably, the Brazilian forward’s contract runs until 2027, but renewal talks have stalled due to several key disagreements on financial grounds. 

While Real Madrid see Vinicius as one of the pillars of their sporting project, negotiations have proven more complicated than expected.

Lot of expectations from both sides

One major sticking point has been the renewal bonus requested by the player. 

Vinicius sought a signing bonus similar to the one received by Kylian Mbappe. 

Club president Florentino Perez rejected that request, making it clear that the club would not replicate Mbappé’s exceptional conditions.

The biggest obstacle now lies in image rights. Vinicius is pushing for a higher percentage, while Real Madrid remain reluctant to adjust their long-standing structure. 

Saudi Arabia will try to sign Vinicius Jr. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

This disagreement has effectively frozen progress, despite both sides expressing a desire to continue working together.

Vinicius wants to stay

From the club’s perspective, Vinicius is considered untouchable from a sporting standpoint. 

Madrid have repeatedly shown their trust in him, including backing the player during internal tensions that followed the departure of Xabi Alonso. 

At the same time, the PIF can offer financial figures that few European clubs could even contemplate. 

However, the sporting reality is different, as Saudi football, while growing rapidly, still cannot match the competitive level of Europe’s elite leagues. 

At 25, Vinicius is in the prime of his career, and his priority remains winning major trophies and competing for individual honours.

For that reason, the approaches from Saudi Arabia have remained informal and exploratory. 

There has been no concrete progress, and no sense that the player is ready to consider a move away from Europe at this stage.