Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is running out of patience with Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior, according to Spanish news outlet SPORT.
The 25-year-old has two years left on his contract. Talks over a new deal were all but settled, with both sides reaching an agreement in principle. Vinicius has since refused to sign a new deal.
He reportedly wants to change some details in his contract negotiation. The winger wants a renewal bonus and wages that match Kylian Mbappe’s earnings.
However, Los Blancos are unwilling to break their wage structure just to please Vinicius. They believe that agreeing to his terms would set a dangerous precedent for the rest of the squad.
Madrid are growing impatient with the player’s tactics, and there is speculation that the club could decide to cash in on him when the transfer window opens in January.
Vinicius still has a few months to shift his stance and sign the pre-agreed terms. If he doesn’t, Madrid could place him on the transfer list, with clubs in Saudi Arabia waiting in the wings.
The change in tone is surprising considering how much faith Madrid has invested in him over the years.
Perez personally led the charge to sign Vinicius from Flamengo in 2017, with Madrid forking out a whopping €45 million to complete the deal.
Vinicius was a 17-year-old prospect, and his first two years at Madrid were comical.
He eventually found his feet in the Spanish capital in the 2021/22 season and has since developed into one of the best players in the world and a key figure in Madrid’s attack.
His confrontational character has often kept him at the centre of controversy, but Madrid have always protected him.
However, with his current contract running until 2027, the threat of him seeing out the deal and leaving on a free transfer has increased tensions.
Vinicius has been frustrated with his reduced game time this season, although the club played no part in it, with new manager Xabi Alonso calling the shots.
Even without lasting 90 minutes in any game, Vinicius has bagged two goals and two assists in five La Liga games.
