The Athletic published a controversial report revealing that Vinicius Junior informed Real Madrid president Florentino Perez that he will not renew his contract with the club as long as his relationship with coach Xabi Alonso remains strained.
In recent days, other reports have suggested that Vinicius is close to renewing with Real Madrid, but The Athletic asserts that all these reports are baseless rumors, and the opposite is true in the negotiations between the Brazilian player and the club.
Vinicius met with Perez in an official meeting recently, during which it was clear that his strained relationship with Alonso makes him believe that renewing his contract with Real Madrid is not the best option, according to three different sources who spoke to the renowned English network.
The strained relationship between Vinicius and Alonso dates back to the 2025 Club World Cup, specifically to the semi-final match against Paris Saint-Germain. At that time, the coach’s plan was to have Vinicius on the bench, but Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury forced him to bring the Brazilian on. To Vinicius’s surprise, Alonso decided to play him on the right wing instead of the left.
This sparked the tension between Vinicius and Alonso, which continued to escalate due to the coach’s frequent substitutions of the player in La Liga matches. The situation reached its peak in El Clásico, where the 24-year-old began to believe that the former Bayer Leverkusen coach was “not treating him fairly.”
It is said that Vinicius deliberately omitted Alonso from his apology statement to Real Madrid fans and the club’s management for his actions in El Clásico, confirming his resentment towards the coach and his feeling that he wasn’t receiving the treatment he deserved.
Although the relationship with Alonso plays a significant role in the current stalled negotiations to renew Vinicius’ contract, the player’s record-breaking financial demands have further complicated matters between the club and his agent.
Real Madrid’s offer has reached €20 million annually, while Vinicius wants €30 million, a record-breaking figure previously achieved only by Cristiano Ronaldo. The Brazilian is also demanding an exorbitant loyalty bonus.
Ultimately, Perez highly values Vinicius and hopes he will remain at Real Madrid. However, the situation remains highly uncertain due to the player’s stance towards Alonso, his feeling that his value has diminished compared to the Carlo Ancelotti era, and the financial demands that the Spanish club cannot meet without disrupting its wage structure and the ensuing financial crisis.
