Vinícius Júnior's future takes a radical turn despite Real Madrid's efforts

Real Madrid has many open fronts at the moment. On the one hand, Xabi Alonso must solve the sporting problems before it is too late and the results condemn his adventure at Bernabéu. But in addition, while that happens, the club also must be very alert to everything that happens with Vinícius Júnior, who has become the main protagonist of the season.

"7" of Real Madrid is standing out, but not because of what he is doing on the field, which is very little, but because of his delicate contractual situation. The saga of his renewal has been hanging in the air for months and it doesn't seem that it will be solved soon.

Florentino Pérez has tried to renew Vinícius Júnior's contract by improving his proposal on several occasions, but it has not been enough. The Brazilian wants to earn a net €30 million per season, a figure that would place him on a practically unaffordable salary tier. And Florentino, who takes care of the locker room as much as the accounts, is not willing to open a rift that will then be impossible to close.

Vinícius Júnior's future takes a radical turn despite Real Madrid's attempts

In this context, to general surprise, Vinícius Júnior has made a decision that changes everything:he is willing to leave as a free agent in 2027 if he doesn't feel sufficiently valued. That turn is brutal because of what it implies, because it is no longer a long negotiation, but a strategic threat.

At a contractual level, Vinícius Júnior's message has short-term consequences for Real Madrid. The best teams in the world know that they could secure his signing at zero cost in 18 months, an extremely attractive scenario. In that type of operation, salary is not the only incentive, because the great tool of modern soccer appears: the signing bonus.

If the buying club doesn't pay a transfer fee, it can offer a huge bonus, a higher contract, and more aggressive commissions for his entourage. Real Madrid, aware of this situation, must start to make a move if it doesn't want to see its star leave for free in 2027. Florentino Pérez has two options.

The first option is obvious: he can redirect the negotiation and bring positions closer, but without breaking his salary scale. The second is tougher, but also more realistic: if there is no agreement, Florentino will trigger Vinícius Júnior's sale this very summer. Real Madrid can't afford to let "7" leave for free, so it will take the difficult path if the Brazilian refuses to renew.