Vinicius stalls contract talks after tensions with Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso.
Madrid
Real Madrid’s long-term squad blueprint has been shaken after star winger Vinicius Junior reportedly told club president Florentino Perez that he will not renew his contract under current conditions, signalling a deepening rift with manager Xabi Alonso. The Athletic reported that Vinicius communicated his stance in a private meeting last month, making it clear that a contract extension is unlikely unless his situation under Alonso improves.
Vinicius’s current deal runs until 2027 and carries a €1 billion release clause, and while Real Madrid have offered a renewal worth around €20 million net annually, negotiations have stalled. Sources close to the player insist the issue is not primarily financial but rooted in trust, playing time, and his role within Alonso’s project.
The friction is believed to have started during the Club World Cup semi-final in July, when Alonso initially intended to bench Vinicius and later deployed him on the right wing, a position the Brazilian has long resisted. Since then, he has started only four of Madrid’s last 17 matches and completed the full 90 minutes just five times.
The tension became unmistakable during the 2-1 El Clásico win over Barcelona on October 26. Despite being instrumental in the victory, Vinicius was substituted in the 71st minute and reacted angrily, heading straight to the tunnel. Although he later apologised publicly and privately to teammates and Perez— pointedly, he made no mention of Alonso.
Vinicius’s camp believes the trust between player and manager has eroded, citing reduced minutes and tactical disagreements. Real Madrid, however, deny internal discord and attribute rotation decisions to the demands of a long season. Alonso has publicly maintained there is no personal issue.
For now, Vinicius has stopped short of requesting a transfer, but unless the relationship improves, Real Madrid may face the unthinkable—losing the player once viewed as central to their post-Benzema future.