Vinicius Junior seeks €30m salary as Real Madrid revive contract talks

Real Madrid have restarted negotiations with Vinicius Junior after a near-year-long pause, offering the Brazil forward an improved package worth up to €22m a year in an effort to extend his contract beyond June 2027.

The proposal was made after the World Cup, according to sources familiar with the discussions who spoke to ESPN. It underlines Real Madrid’s determination to retain one of their leading players, particularly as interest grows from Arsenal, the current Premier League champions.

However, a significant gap remains between the club’s offer and the player’s expectations. Vinicius Junior is currently understood to earn about €17.5m annually, while he and his representatives are seeking a salary of €30m a year.

The latest offer represents a considerable increase on the terms Real Madrid had been prepared to discuss during negotiations over the previous two seasons. Even so, the two sides have yet to reach an agreement and talks are continuing.

The situation has taken on added importance because Vinicius Junior, who is 26, is entering the final year of his contract. If no new deal is signed, he could leave Santiago Bernabeu at the end of next season without a transfer fee. He would also be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club from January.

The player and his agents regard the next contract as the most important of his professional career. They believe it should properly reflect his contribution since he joined Real Madrid in 2018, including his decisive goals in two Champions League finals.

Real Madrid’s willingness to improve their offer comes as the club weighs the possibility of losing one of its most prominent attacking players. ESPN reported last week that the Spanish club is open to the prospect of Vinicius Junior departing during the current summer transfer window if negotiations over a renewal ultimately fail.

Arsenal’s interest has added further pressure to the discussions. The Premier League club is monitoring the situation, with Real Madrid keen to avoid allowing the uncertainty over Vinicius Junior’s future to continue into the final stages of his current agreement.

Vinicius Junior returned to training on Monday after taking a holiday following his participation in the World Cup. He completed routine medical examinations before joining the squad for group training under Real Madrid’s new manager, Jose Mourinho.

The renewal talks had been inactive for almost a year before the club presented its revised terms. Real Madrid’s latest proposal is intended to demonstrate the value it places on Vinicius Junior, but the difference between €22m and the €30m sought by the forward means a final agreement remains some way off.