Real Madrid News
Real Madrid offer new deal worth €22 million to Vinicius; player still demands €30 million
According to ESPN Brasil, Real Madrid have reopened contract negotiations with Vinícius Jr. following the World Cup, presenting the Brazilian star with an improved renewal offer.
While the club have increased their proposal, the two sides remain well apart financially, leaving the future of one of Real Madrid’s biggest stars unresolved.
Real Madrid improve their offer
According to the report, Real Madrid resumed talks with Vinícius and his representatives after the World Cup, ending a negotiation that had been largely dormant for almost a year.
The Merengues’ latest proposal would pay the Brazilian €22 million per season, representing an increase on previous offers of around €20 million per year.
Despite the improved offer, it still falls short of the player’s expectations.
Vinicius is seeking a salary of around €30 million per season, while his current contract pays him roughly €17.5 million annually.
With his deal entering its final year, he would be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club from January if no renewal agreement is reached.
Why the player is holding firm
Sources close to the negotiations told ESPN that Vinicius and his representatives view this as the most important contract of his career.
At 26 years old, they believe the new deal should reflect not only his current status but also everything he has achieved since joining Real Madrid in 2018, including scoring in two UEFA Champions League finals.
As such, Vinicius and his entourage are holding firm on their position and demanding a pay packet worth €30 million per year.
Arsenal continue to monitor the situation
Meanwhile, Arsenal remain interested in the Brazilian international and are closely following the contract situation.
However, according to the report, the Premier League champions have not made any official contact with either Real Madrid or Vinicius’ representatives.
Amid the ongoing contract saga, Vinicius returned to Valdebebas on Monday to begin preparations for the 2026-27 season under new Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho.
Real Madrid, for their part, are prepared to consider selling Vinicius if contract negotiations ultimately collapse.
At present, no new meeting between the two parties has been scheduled, and uncertainty remains on both sides.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid weighing up January move for €70 million-rated Arsenal midfielder – report
Real Madrid’s midfield is the one department where Jose Mourinho sees clear scope for improvement, especially given that the club did not sanction his wish for a top midfield signing in the summer.
While Bernardo Silva has chipped in as a handy option to feature in the deep midfield, the club still lacks a controlling and creative option who can glue the team together.
In that sense, there is a clear lacuna that Real Madrid need to address and Defensa Central brings to light that the club have opened up to a potential target.
Zubimendi emerges as a target
Indeed, the player in question is Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi who the club have seen as a target for a long time, and Real Madrid could even go on to sign him in January.
The Spanish international has not started off the new season well under Mikel Arteta and has primarily featured as a substitute. He does, thus, see a move to Madrid with good eyes in every sense.
Real Madrid, for their part, have not ruled out his signing as was reported in recent months and there is even a chance they seriously pursue him in the winter transfer window as a mid-season fix.
The possible fee
The Spanish outlet also add that Zubimendi’s move to Real Madrid could be completed for a fee similar to what Arsenal paid for the player for his transfer from Real Sociedad – €70 million.
Mourinho’s insistence on making a new midfield signing is no secret, and with a clear target now in mind, the board could well back him with the player he wishes.
Notably, however, even Chelsea are seriously interested in his signing.
So far, Federico Valverde has been Real Madrid’s mainstay in midfield, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return will change the team’s dynamics in the department.
Neither player, however, offers the control and distribution skill set that the team direly lack.
A big part of whether or not the club pushes for Zubimendi, however, will depend on how the Valverde-Tchouameni combination plays out in the coming months. It is, after all, the manager’s first-choice combination for big games.
