Vinicius Junior may soon join Real Madrid icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the Saudi Pro League, as reports indicate that a world-record bid is being prepared by Saudi dealmakers.
The Brazilian forward has been with the Santiago Bernabeu club since 2018 and has emerged as the talisman for the La Liga giants following Benzema’s departure to Al-Ittihad in 2023. He is regarded as one of the most crucial players for Los Blancos, and the club is making efforts to secure him with a new contract.
At 25 years old, he has expressed his intention to remain in Madrid; however, no agreement has been reached regarding an extension of his current contract, which is set to expire in 2027. This situation has created an opportunity for officials from the Saudi Pro League to entice him with a potential move to the Middle East, and they are reportedly feeling “encouraged” by the stagnation in contract negotiations.
Vinicus has been on the radar of the Saudi Pro League for more than a year and is among several prominent European stars that have been associated with the league in recent years. Mohamed Salah was a primary target until he signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool, while Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe declined a €300m (£257m) transfer in July 2023.
According to talkSPORT, discussions with the Brazilian international regarding a possible transfer to Saudi Arabia have been “ongoing for over a year.” Saudi executives are determining the optimal moment to make their move and are adopting a patient strategy, yet they aim to secure his signing within the next three years.
This summer, they plan to gauge interest with a world-record bid of approximately €350million (£302m) to entice Madrid to release the 2024 Ballon d’Or runner-up. This offer would exceed the existing record of £200m, which Paris Saint-Germain paid Barcelona for Neymar (illustrated below) in August 2017.
The winger is expected to earn approximately €1 billion [£864 million], inclusive of bonuses, as part of a suggested five-year contract. Ronaldo currently holds the title of football’s highest-paid player, with an annual salary of £178 million at Al-Nassr.
The Saudi club successfully persuaded the 40-year-old to continue his tenure at Al-Awwal Park by signing a new contract, which reportedly grants him influence over board decisions. One area where he may exert his influence is in recruitment, potentially leading to an effort to acquire Vinicius, who has long admired him.
