Real Madrid has made an improved contract offer to Vinícius Júnior since the conclusion of the World Cup, according to sources who spoke with ESPN, reviving negotiations that had been stalled for almost a year.
Speculation about the Brazilian international’s future has intensified in recent weeks, with his current contract set to expire in June 2027 and reported interest from Premier League champions Arsenal.
According to sources, Madrid has offered Vinícius a deal worth approximately €22 million annually, an increase over what the club had previously been willing to offer during negotiations over the past two seasons. The proposed length of the extension has not been disclosed.
Even so, a significant gap remains between Madrid’s latest proposal and Vinícius Júnior’s reported demands of around €30 million per year, and it remains unclear exactly how long the new offer would run.
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Vinícius currently earns roughly €17.5 million annually as he enters the final year of his existing contract. Should he not renew, the winger could leave the Bernabéu on a free transfer at the end of the coming season, becoming eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club as early as January.
Sources told ESPN that the player and his representatives view this contract, coming at age 26, as likely to be the defining deal of his career. They believe Madrid should properly recognize what Vinícius has contributed to the club since arriving in 2018, including scoring in two Champions League finals.
ESPN reported last week that Madrid would be open to allowing Vinícius to leave this summer should the two sides fail to reach agreement on an extension.
Vinícius returned to training Monday following his post-World Cup break, undergoing medical evaluations and training alongside teammates and new head coach José Mourinho.