Real Madrid‘s star winger Vinicius Junior has put a hold on making any decisions about a potential move to Saudi Arabia, choosing to wait until the summer of 2025 before deciding his future.
Sources close to the situation revealed that the Brazilian is weighing his options carefully with the possibility of winning the Ballon d’Or being a significant factor in his decision.
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Vinicius Junior delays decision amid Saudi interest
Vinicius Junior, whose contract with Real Madrid runs until June 2027 with a hefty €1 billion release clause, has been the subject of serious interest from the Saudi Pro League.
Representatives from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund reportedly approached both Vinicius and Real Madrid with a potential deal that included a staggering annual salary of up to €350 million.
The plan was for Vinícius to join Al Ahli and serve as a football ambassador for Saudi Arabia in the lead-up to the 2034 World Cup.
Despite the lucrative offer, Vinicius has decided not to rush his decision. His representatives informed Real Madrid that the player is not interested in renewing his current contract at this time preferring to take the season to consider his next move.
The forward’s hesitation has given Real Madrid hope that he will stay for the long term, but they may have to reconsider their stance on his release clause in 2025 when he has just two years left on his contract.
While Real Madrid were firm in not negotiating below the release clause this summer, there is speculation that they could be more open to discussions in 2025. If Vinicius does decide to move, the deal with Saudi Arabia could make him the highest-paid athlete in sports history.
Since joining Real Madrid in 2018, Vinicius has been a key player for the club winning two Champions League titles and three La Liga titles.
His potential departure would be a significant loss for the club ,but for now, both Madrid and Vinícius are focused on the current season with all eyes on what the future holds.