Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior continues to face an uncertain future as contract talks with Los Blancos remain stalled despite his desire to continue at the Santiago Bernabéu where he has become a fan favorite and one of the club’s most decisive attacking players in recent seasons.
Spanish outlet AS reported that discussions between the two parties have slowed since the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this year, with a financial gap of nearly 15 percent still separating the sides even though Vinícius has lowered his original demands to reach a compromise that would secure his long-term stay.
The Brazilian has expressed his willingness to adapt to Xabi Alonso’s tactical system which has asked him to track back more and reduce his attacking influence, yet frustration has grown over limited minutes on the pitch this season compared to previous campaigns.
Vinicius Junior and Al Ahli interest
Reports dating back to July from TalkSport revealed that Saudi Pro League executives had been pursuing Vinicius for over a year and were already preparing an offer of around €350m [$411m] that would have exceed the €222m [$260m] Paris Saint-Germain once paid for Neymar in 2017.
The latest claims suggest Al Ahli are now ready to go even further by promising the winger a salary higher than Cristiano Ronaldo’s €200m [$234m] annual wage at Al Nassr, which currently stands as the biggest in world football.
🚨 Al-Ahli are prepared to make Vinícius Júnior the best-paid player in the world, offering him a salary in excess of Cristiano Ronaldo’s €200M yearly wage at Al Nassr. 🇸🇦
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) September 29, 2025
(Source: @talkSPORT) pic.twitter.com/iqGglvdqGB
If confirmed, the proposal would eclipse every contract currently active in the sport and make the Brazilian the highest paid footballer in history.
Vinícius is under contract at Real Madrid until June 2027 and earns around €17m [$20m] net per season with bonuses included.