Vinícius Jr Demands Mbappé-Level Salary, Contract Talks with Real Madrid Collapse Amid Tensions

Tensions are rising at the Santiago Bernabéu as Brazilian star Vinícius Jr, currently valued at €170 million, has brought contract renewal talks to a grinding halt. According to Spain’s reputable Cadena SER, the 25-year-old winger is demanding a salary equal to that of teammate Kylian Mbappé—prompting outrage from the Real Madrid board.

Previously, Real Madrid had proposed a performance-based contract extension. It included bonus triggers such as goals and awards, which would have made Vinícius the second-highest earner at the club, just behind Mbappé. However, Vinícius reportedly rejected the offer outright, demanding a fixed annual salary of €31.25 million—more than €10 million above his current base salary of €20.83 million, not including his annual €4.17 million signing bonus and performance bonuses.

Real Madrid is said to be shocked and furious at the "excessive" demands, particularly after a season where Vinícius failed to perform at his best. Despite the frustration, club officials are trying to remain calm, hoping there’s still room to restart negotiations in the coming weeks.

If no agreement is reached, Real Madrid may consider selling the winger while his market value is high. It’s reported that clubs from Saudi Arabia have already submitted offers as high as €200 million—a figure that could tempt Florentino Pérez into making a strategic sale.

Such a transfer windfall could fund Pérez’s long-standing dream of pairing Mbappé and Erling Haaland at Madrid—a duo many believe would define a new galáctico era.

With the new season approaching fast, the standoff between Vinícius and Real Madrid adds more drama to the summer window. At its core, this is more than a negotiation—it’s a battle over status, legacy, and the financial pecking order of one of football’s biggest clubs.