Vinicus Jr has told Real Madrid that he does not intend to renew his contract, amid strained tensions with boss Xabi Alonso, a report has claimed.
The Brazilian, whose contract at the Bernabeu runs until the summer of 2027, reportedly communicated his position to club president Florentino Perez during a private conversation late last month.
Contract talks were opened in January but stalled after both sides failed to agree financial terms and long-term conditions linked to his role under Alonso.
The breakdown escalated during Madrid’s 2-1 Clasico victory over Barcelona on October 26, when Vinicius reacted angrily after being substituted in the 72nd minute. He stormed off the pitch, refused to acknowledge Alonso, and later apologised for his behaviour, before meeting Perez in the days that followed.
According to The Athletic, at that meeting, his future was discussed alongside his apology, and he made clear he did not believe extending was the right decision in the current circumstances.
That position had not changed in the weeks since, with the outlet claiming that sources close to the player maintaining his doubts remain firmly rooted in the strained relationship with Alonso.
Vinicus Jr has reportedly told Real Madrid that he does not intend to renew his contract, amid strained tensions with boss Xabi Alonso
The breakdown escalated during Madrid’s 2-1 Clasico victory over Barcelona on October 26, when Vinicius reacted angrily after being substituted
The tension between player and coach first intensified after Madrid’s 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-final on July 9.
Alonso had planned to bench him for that match, before an injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold forced a change, with Vinicius instead deployed on the right wing.
Since then, he has only completed five of Madrid’s 17 matches in all competitions and had started on the bench in four league fixtures. He was again named among the substitutes during Sunday’s 2-2 draw away at Elche, continuing a reduced role in recent weeks.
It has been reported that Vinicius believes he is no longer receiving the level of trust he had under Carlo Ancelotti. That belief was reflected in his decision not to mention Alonso by name in his written apology following the Clasico outburst.
The omission reportedly caused surprise among senior Madrid figures, given Alonso had been present when he apologised in person to the wider squad.
Alonso had previously addressed the situation publicly and stated that rotation was essential due to a demanding fixture schedule.
Vinicius currently earns around €18 million (£15.8m) net per year under the contract he signed in 2022, which includes a €1bn release clause. Madrid reportedly offered an extension worth around €20m (£17.6m) net per season earlier this year.
His representatives instead requested a package close to €30m (£26.4m) per season, including salary, bonuses and a renewal fee not previously issued by the club.
The Brazilian, whose contract at the Bernabeu runs until the summer of 2027, reportedly communicated his position to club president Florentino Perez last month
Those demands were not accepted, and talks subsequently stalled with no formal progress made. Madrid have denied that the meeting with Perez took place, the Athletic report, despite multiple senior sources confirming its occurrence to external media.
The situation unfolds during a turbulent year for Vinicius following his Ballon d’Or disappointment and the arrival of Kylian Mbappe.
The 25-year-old has recorded five goals in 16 appearances this season, compared with Mbappe’s 18 in the same number of matches. Daily Mail Sport previously reported that Brazilian media figures viewed his current trajectory as following a Neymar-style pattern of mounting pressure and instability.
Madrid remain top of La Liga under Alonso but have growing internal concerns over dissatisfaction among a section of senior players.
