Real Madrid News
Real Madrid refuse to offer Vinicius same salary as Mbappe; final proposal worth €24 million
According to Cadena SER, Real Madrid remain firm in their contract negotiations with Vinicius Jr. and are unwilling to make him the club’s highest-paid player, despite ongoing talks over a new deal.
The standoff has been building for more than a year. Reports dating back to 2025 indicated that the Brazilian wanted a contract comparable to Kylian Mbappe’s, while Real Madrid were determined not to break their wage structure.
Although discussions have resumed, the gap between the two sides remains significant, with Arsenal keeping a close eye on the situation.
Real Madrid increase their offer, but draw a line
Over the course of negotiations, Real Madrid have gradually improved their proposal.
Vinícius previously earned around €18 million per season under his existing contract. The club first increased its offer to €20 million, before raising it again to €22 million per year in a proposed extension running until 2031.
Performance-related bonuses linked to achievements such as winning the Champions League, LaLiga, or the Ballon d’Or could increase the package to approximately €24 million annually.
However, club officials have made it clear they will not go beyond those figures.
Vinicius, meanwhile, is reportedly seeking a salary of around €30 million per season, a demand Real Madrid have already rejected.
Mbappe’s salary remains untouchable
One of the club’s priorities is maintaining its internal wage hierarchy.
Real Madrid do not intend to offer Vinicius a contract that matches or exceeds Mbappe’s earnings, which is high because of the signing-on bonus he received after arriving as a free agent.
As such, the Brazilian international would continue to sit below the French forward in the club’s salary structure if he renews. That principle has remained unchanged throughout negotiations.
Personal factors also influence the situation
The contract negotiations are not solely about finances.
The report suggests that Vinicius has become frustrated with aspects of his experience in Spanish football, including criticism from sections of the media and hostile treatment from some supporters.
He also continues to feel strongly about the racist abuse he has faced during his time in Spain, an issue that has had a significant impact on him personally.
While those concerns do not determine the outcome of the negotiations on their own, they form part of the wider context surrounding one of the biggest contract sagas of the summer.
Negotiations continue
Despite the current impasse, both Real Madrid and Vinicius still have time to reach an agreement.
The club remain committed to extending the Brazilian’s contract, but only within their established financial framework.
Vinicius, meanwhile, must decide whether to accept those terms or continue exploring the alternatives available to him, with Arsenal remaining the most closely linked potential destination.
Real Madrid are back in action tomorrow in La Liga as they take on Elche at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on Matchday 6.
The Merengues go into the game on the back of a solid 4-1 win over Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu and will be eager to build on that, especially with the Madrid derby coming up later in the week.
Ahead of the trip to Elche, Jose Mourinho has announced the squad list of players that will be at his disposal for the game tomorrow night.
There are no new returns to the squad as Real Madrid continue to be without Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, and Rodrygo Goes for the game.
Mourinho could look to make changes to his starting lineup, keeping an eye on the derby at the weekend, which could potentially open the doors for someone like Aurelien Tchouameni to start, having been eased back into the thick of things after return from injury.
There could be some rotations in defence as well, with the likes of Antonio Rudiger and Trent Alexander-Arnold hoping to get some action on the pitch.
It remains to be seen if Yan Diomande starts another game after featuring from the get-go against Rayo at the weekend, especially considering that Arda Guler has been a key player for Mourinho’s team.
Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and Jude Bellingham have started all matches so far and it will be interesting to see if one or all of them are given a break with an eye on the derby.
📋✅ ¡Nuestros convocados!
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) September 14, 2026
🆚 @elchecf pic.twitter.com/cTBbwSThoO
Hala_Madrid
August 5, 2026 at 2:52 pm
Cry me a river. Oh please, we’re talking about 22 million per year. That’s a lot of money. Who cares if your teammates are making more money than you, you’re still making a lot of money, just focus on the the team and how you can improve your game because your game has been declining for a while with no improvement in sight. I remember the Showtime Lakers with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabar, James Worthy and Co., there were no jealousy. Those guys only focus was about winning. Imagine what can happen with Madrid if those guys were to focus about winning instead of nonsense.