On July 12, 2018, Vinicius became JR 18 and automatically became a Real Madrid player. The club had signed him months earlier and Flamengo paid € 45 million ($ 48.6 million), but the move quit him and reached the legal age. Seven years later he turns 25 about what the peak of his career should be – reigning as FIFA is the best and almost winning the balloon d'Or – but in a sharp slump that monitors his immediate future.
Happy 25th Birthday Vini
During the club World Cup, he only succeeded in one striking version against Salzburg, where he scored and assisted. It was another sign that there is little trace of the player who was directly responsible for the last two Champions League triumphs from Madrid – against Liverpool and Dortmund.
Nevertheless, Vinicius is comfortably ranked in the top five most valuable players in the world, according to the newest update of Transfermarkt. His market value is € 170 million ($ 183.6 million), behind only Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham (all at € 180 million, or $ 194.4 million) and Lamine Yamal (€ 200 million or $ 216 million). But his role in the future of Real Madrid remains an open question – especially with a contract extension that has been agreed, but has not yet been signed.
When does Vinicius's contract expire?
Vinicius will be contraction with Madrid until 2027. There is a verbal agreement to expand it until 2030 – only three extra years – because his agent, Frederico Pena, gives players preferred control over their future and avoids long deals. The new contract would make Vinicius the best paid player in the team. When he was extended by 2022, he agreed to earn € 75 million ($ 81 million) for five years, an average of € 15 million ($ 16.2 million) net per season.
With this upcoming renewal, that figure would rise annually to almost € 20 million ($ 21.6 million). According to Hints from the club, Mbappé currently earns € 15 million per season.
Vinicius situation is still in the air
However, until Pen meets paper, the entire agreement stays up in the air. Vinicius is currently on holiday in the US, where he is going on a short tour to attend NBA games – his other great passion – and a few obligations with Nike, his sponsor, fulfills. In some cities he will cross paths with his good friend Eduardo Camavinga, who also did not return to Madrid with the team. It is expected that the contract extension will be completed and will be formally announced after these holidays.
Nevertheless, the strange atmosphere that is being held after the PSG Defeat – which once again emphasized the lack of chemistry between Vini and Mbappé on the field – fueled new rumors about his future. In any case, the Saudi Arabic offer that would have paid € 1 billion ($ 1.08 billion) in five years is no longer on the table. Vinicius remains determined to continue writing history in Madrid.
Until now, at only 25, he has already played 322 games for the club, he scored 106 goals and offers 75 assists. At that time he won two Champions League titles, three LaLiga championships, a Copa del Rey and various other trophies.