Vinicius Junior was on the verge of winning the Ballon d’Or last year. Many Real Madrid fans still believe that he was robbed, as Rodri went on to win the award.
However, the expectation was that Vinicius would step up and have a much bigger impact last season so that nobody could deny him the Ballon d’Or.
But what happened was the exact opposite. In the 2024/25 season, Vinicius scored just 22 goals in 58 games for the Los Blancos (including the Club World Cup).
Meanwhile, the season before, the Brazilian scored 24 goals in 39 games. So, Vinicius scored more goals in fewer matches and helped Real Madrid win their 15th Champions League.
After the humiliating Club World Cup semi-final game against PSG, Real Madrid are due to make some tough decisions.
Under the new manager, Xabi Alonso, the squad is expected to get trimmed. Also, new players are coming in, and the players who are not aligning with Alonso’s plan will leave the club.
That is why Rodrygo is in pole position among stars who might leave Valdebebas this season.
Liverpool are currently leading the race to sign Rodrygo, according to recent reports.
However, most people expected Vinicius Junior to extend his Real Madrid contract after the Club World Cup.
The Brazilian is one of the main figures in Xabi Alonso’s plans.
However, he is yet to renew his contract because he wants to see what other options he has on the table.
So, Real Madrid are now facing a tough decision. They cannot lose their star player for free. His contract will expire in 2027.
That is why Real Madrid have made up their minds. They are open to offers for Vinicus Junior.
However, according to Fichajes, if a club wants to sign Vincius, they will have to pay in excess of €150 million.
The Brazilian will have many offers on his table once clubs find out that he is available in the market.
So, it will be interesting to see which club is ready to table that amount for the Brazilian superstar.
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