Vinicius leaving for free next season?

For months, negotiations between Real Madrid's hierarchy and the representatives of Vinícius Junior have been dragging on. Both sides would like to continue working together, but each on its own terms. The Brazilian wants a significant salary increase, while the club is unwilling to meet his demands. Vinícius has reportedly already lowered his expectations, but not enough for club president Florentino Perez to agree.

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According to reports, Vinícius is asking for 30 million euros per year, almost double his current salary. When he signed a five-year contract extension in 2022, it was agreed that he would earn a total of 75 million euros through a gradually increasing salary structure. He started on 13 million euros in the first year, while his base salary next season is set to be 17 million euros. On average, that amounts to 15 million per season. In addition, the Brazilian received a multi-million-euro bonus after winning FIFA's The Best FIFA Football Awards award for the world's best player. At the time, Real Madrid's star forward was also among the favorites for the Ballon d'Or, and that was when his demands for a substantial pay rise first emerged. However, they did not produce the response he had hoped for from the club.

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The latest information published by the Spanish newspaper AS suggests that Vinícius has decided to remain in Madrid regardless of the outcome of the negotiations. He will play for Real Madrid next season, and whether he signs a new contract in the meantime is not currently a major concern for him. The Brazilian is focused on the World Cup and is in no rush to return to the negotiating table. In any case, the current situation works in the player's favor. If nothing changes, he could leave Real Madrid on a free transfer next June. That would allow him to negotiate directly with interested clubs and demand the salary he wants. As things stand, that scenario appears increasingly possible.

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The fact that Real Madrid may be preparing for life without Vinícius is also reflected in the club's ongoing search for another attacking superstar. A reported 150 million euros offer has already been submitted for Julian Alvarez, while the club is also working on a move for Michael Olise from Bayern Munich. Vinícius, now 25, joined Real Madrid from Flamengo eight years ago in a 45 million euros transfer. In 375 appearances for the club, he has scored 128 goals and provided 100 assists. During his time in Madrid, he has helped the team win two Champions League titles and three La Liga championships, among other trophies.