Real Madrid News
Real Madrid calm over superstar’s future as renewal talks to take place after World Cup
Vinicius Jr. has been one of the standout performers in the ongoing FIFA World Cup, most recently starring in the nation’s 2-1 win over Japan in the Round of 32.
Despite his brilliant performances at the World Cup, his future at Real Madrid remains far from certain, with the player’s contract at Santiago Bernabeu expiring in the summer of 2027.
That means Vinicius will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with other clubs in six months’ time.
Vinicius and Real Madrid to hold fresh talks
According to MARCA, Vinicius has decided to hold fresh talks over his contract renewal at Real Madrid after the end of the ongoing World Cup campaign.
This likely means the two parties will hold talks once Brazil’s campaign concludes, with Real Madrid keen not to interfere with Vinicius’ participation in the competition.
Despite public statements of intent from both sides, the renewal has still not been formalised in writing, leaving the situation unresolved.
The main sticking point remains financial. Vinicius is seeking a significant increase on his current salary of around €20 million per season, with reports suggesting he wants to push that figure closer to €30 million annually.
Real Madrid, however, consider that demand unlikely to be met, particularly given his dip in form across the previous two campaigns.
The club have been mostly calm about the situation. But with the Brazilian able to negotiate freely from January 1st, 2027, time is increasingly a factor, and a resolution will need to be found one way or another once the tournament ends.
A World Cup to remember
If the contract situation has cast a shadow, Vinicius’ performances on the pitch have done the opposite, with Romario recently hailing him as one of the top five players in the world.
The winger has been in scintillating form, registering three goals and two assists across Brazil’s first three matches before continuing his fine run in the Round of 32 victory over Japan.
Those displays could yet have a bearing on his future. For now, Vinicius has no concrete offers from elsewhere. Saudi Arabia’s earlier interest appears to have faded, and a previous link with Chelsea is now firmly off the table following the arrival of Xabi Alonso.
A strong World Cup will only strengthen the Brazilian’s negotiating position. Whether that translates into the kind of deal he is seeking remains to be seen.
After three successive wins to start the season, a 1-0 loss to Real Betis came as a reality check for Real Madrid, who are still some way off matching the quality and consistency of Barcelona.
In light of the defeat, the Real Madrid coaching staff is analysing the best way to get the most out of the current setup.
More expected from Valverde
According to Defensa Central, one of the key conclusions drawn from the Betis defeat is that Real Madrid need greater involvement from Federico Valverde with the ball.
The Uruguayan has been deployed as the pivot, largely due to the absence of the injured Aurelien Tchouameni, but he is yet to make the step up in quality the team requires from that role.
While his effort and commitment are never in doubt, Mourinho and his staff, led by Sami Khedira, feel Valverde spends too much time positioned behind the opposition’s midfield line.
As a result, he fails to offer passing lanes to his teammates when they are under pressure, forcing them into hurried, aimless clearances rather than playing out cleanly from the back.
That concern has already been communicated to Valverde, who is still adapting to a position he has never truly played, making the challenge all the more difficult for him.
A collective issue to fix
However, the problem is not Valverde’s alone, with the coaching staff identifying a wider issue in the team’s structure.
Khedira has reportedly noted a certain passivity from the attackers in the videos of the match, particularly Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe, when it comes to offering themselves as the ball transitions from midfield into attacking areas.
That lack of movement compounds the difficulties for the deeper midfielders.
Mourinho, for his part, remains unfazed by the departure of Rodri to Barcelona, insisting his squad has the tools to cope.
“I’m not missing Rodri. We have solutions, we have quality,” the Portuguese said, before adding that he backs his ability to improve players.
With a Champions League opener against Inter Milan on the horizon, Mourinho and his staff will be keen to iron out these issues quickly.
