What started as a quiet contract discussion behind closed doors has now turned into one of Real Madrid’s biggest storylines of the season.
Vinicius Jr, usually the electric face of the club’s attack, has reportedly informed Real Madrid that he has no intention of renewing his deal—and tensions with manager Xabi Alonso sit at the heart of it.
A Private Chat That Changed Everything
According to reports, the Brazilian winger spoke privately with club president Florentino Perez late last month.
During that conversation, he expressed doubts about committing to a future under the current circumstances.
His contract still runs until 2027, but talks that began back in January had already hit a wall, mostly because of disagreements over money and his long-term role under Alonso.
The Breaking Point at El Clásico
If things were already rocky, El Clásico certainly didn’t help.
When Alonso substituted Vinicius in the 72nd minute of Madrid’s 2-1 win over Barcelona on October 26, the 25-year-old reacted with fury—storming off, dodging Alonso’s attempt at a handshake, and retreating straight to the dressing room.
He later apologised, but when he met Perez days later, that apology reportedly came with a clear message: he no longer believed renewing was the right call.
Doubts That Refuse to Fade
In the weeks since, nothing appears to have softened Vinicius’ stance.
Sources close to him insist that his trust in Alonso remains fractured.
The issue stretches back months, long before El Clásico, to Madrid’s 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-final on July 9.
A Benching That Triggered Concern
Alonso had originally planned to leave Vinicius out of the starting lineup that day.
Only an injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold pushed the Brazilian back into the XI—this time on the right wing.
Since that match, the winger has completed only five of Madrid’s 17 games, and he has even been dropped to the bench in several league fixtures, including the 2-2 draw at Elche on Sunday.
Comparing Past Leadership and Present Tensions
Vinicius reportedly feels that the faith shown in him by Carlo Ancelotti is no longer there.
The strain was so obvious that when he issued his written apology following the Clasico incident, many noticed he never once mentioned Alonso’s name.
Senior club figures were said to be puzzled, especially since Alonso was present when Vinicius apologised to the squad face-to-face.
Alonso’s Reasoning: It’s Just Rotation
Publicly, Alonso has downplayed any personal conflict, insisting the team’s demanding fixture list requires constant rotation.
But inside the dressing room, it’s clear the shift in Vinicius’s role is being felt.
The Big Financial Divide
Money, as always, complicates the picture.
Vinicius currently earns around €18 million net per season, under the deal he signed in 2022—which includes a massive €1 billion release clause.
Madrid offered a new contract worth about €20 million per year, but his camp reportedly pushed for closer to €30 million, including bonuses and a renewal payment the club has never granted before.
Madrid did not agree, and talks have essentially frozen.
While the club publicly denies Perez met with Vinicius last month, multiple senior sources insist the meeting happened.
A Tough Year Gets Tougher
All of this comes during a personally challenging stretch for Vinicius—his Ballon d’Or hopes fizzled, and Kylian Mbappé’s arrival has shifted the spotlight.
The numbers don’t help: Vinicius has five goals in 16 matches, while Mbappé has 18 in the same span.
Brazilian commentators have already drawn comparisons to Neymar’s past spells of pressure and turbulence.
Madrid Winning Games, but Losing Peace
Despite the chaos, Madrid remain top of La Liga under Alonso.
Even so, concern is rising inside the club as more senior players quietly voice frustration about the current atmosphere.
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