Real Madrid have reportedly reached an impasse in their negotiations with Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior about a contract extension.
His representatives have been engaged in talks with club bosses for several months, but they have failed to reach a satisfactory agreement according to several Spanish media outlets.
The news will likely trigger attention from Manchester City and Liverpool as they strive to strengthen their respective squads this summer.
The two clubs are among the bookmakers’ favourites to win the Premier League title next season, but signing a player of Vinicius Jr’s quality would shake up the market.
The sportsbook linked to Betpanda Casino BTC would be inundated with wagers on whichever club acquired the forward if they could persuade Madrid to sell.
Vinicius Jr reportedly wants parity with Kylian Mbappe’s salary, but Madrid have shown no inclination to bow to his demands.
His contract expires in 2027 and the club may have a major decision to make if they are unable to convince him to extend his contract at the Bernabeu Stadium.
The 25-year-old insisted during the recent Club World Cup that he is happy at Madrid and wants to remain with them for the rest of his playing career.
“I hope I can stay here for many years,” Vini Jr said (Mundo Deportivo). “I’ve always said it’s the club of my life. I’m very happy with the coach and the staff – I hope I can stay.
“I have a two-year contract until 2027. I want to stay for my entire career and make history in this team.”
Given his status as one of the best wingers in the world, major clubs would be clamouring to secure his services. However, only a handful can afford him.
They include Man City and Liverpool, who could both battle to sign Vinicius Jr if Madrid show any willingness to sell him.
Both clubs employ formations which suit his particular skillset rather than the 3-5-2 system new Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has implemented at the club.
Man City currently have several players capable of playing on the left wing, but the opportunity to sign Vinicius Jr could be too tempting to pass up.
Liverpool are in the market for attacking reinforcements this summer and seemingly have cash to burn after indicating they would pay £120 million for Alexander Isak.
Newcastle United have insisted that the Swedish international forward is not for sale this summer, which could force Liverpool to look elsewhere.
A further subplot to Vinicius Jr’s future at Madrid is the racist abuse he has repeatedly been subjected to by rival ‘fans’ during his time in Spain.
The Provincial Court of Valladolid handed five offenders a suspended one-year prison sentence earlier this year, although this may do little to resolve a much wider problem.
Vinicius previously said he his ‘not a victim of racism’ but ‘a tormentor of racists’, but his tearful reaction to subsequent questions about the issue suggests the abuse is having a profound impact.
“I just want to play football but it’s hard to move forward,” he said. “I feel less and less like playing. It never crossed my mind to leave Spain. If I leave, I give the racists exactly what they want.”
While his stance is undoubtedly admirable, failure to agree a new deal with Madrid could open the door for Vinicius Jr to embark on a new journey in a friendlier environment.
Man City or Liverpool would be excellent landing spots for a player who has the ability to be one of the best international stars ever to grace the Premier League.
