Vinicius Junior’s future at Real Madrid remains uncertain after the club held another meeting with the Brazilian’s representatives but failed to reach an agreement over a contract extension.
The 25-year-old forward is under contract with the Spanish club until the end of next season, while Arsenal are showing strong interest in signing him during the current transfer window.
Representatives of Vinicius met Real Madrid chief executive Jose Angel Sanchez and chief scout Juni Calafat on Wednesday in an effort to break the deadlock surrounding negotiations. However, the discussions ended without a final agreement.
According to Mundo Deportivo, citing Spanish radio station Cadena SER, Real Madrid have increased their initial proposal to a net salary of 24m euros per season. The revised offer would keep Vinicius at the club until 2031.
That figure remains below the 30m euros per season initially requested by the player. However, reports from AS have suggested that Vinicius may have reduced his original demand by accepting a structure in which bonuses are included in the new contract.
Real Madrid could be prepared to consider such an arrangement as part of a deal to retain the forward.
Salary is not the only issue still to be resolved. The negotiations also involve an expected renewal bonus and image rights, which are currently divided equally between the club and the player.
Vinicius is seeking a larger share of those image rights, rather than continuing with the existing 50-50 split.
Despite the lack of an agreement at Wednesday’s meeting, there is understood to be greater optimism on both sides than there was a few days ago. The latest discussions have therefore offered some encouragement, although significant details remain unsettled.
Cadena SER reports that Real Madrid now want an immediate response from Vinicius. The decision is considered to be in the player’s hands, with the club waiting to discover whether he will accept the improved terms or continue to seek changes to the proposed agreement.
Arsenal are monitoring the outcome from the other side of the negotiations. Their interest has added further uncertainty to the situation, with the Premier League club waiting to see whether Vinicius and Real Madrid can reach a breakthrough.
For now, the Brazilian remains a Real Madrid player, but the failure to conclude the extension means his long-term position at the club has not yet been secured.
