Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr open to €1 billion Saudi offer, sources say
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia (left) gives chase to Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during a friendly game.
PHOTO: REUTERS
MADRID – Real Madrid and Brazil forward Vinicius Jr is open to an offer of more than €1 billion (S$1.45 billion) from Saudi Arabia, sources close to the player told Reuters on Aug 12.
Vinicius, 24, was approached by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) officials to inquire about his interest of moving to the Saudi Pro League (SPL) on a five-year contract worth around €200 million per season fixed, plus bonuses.
The package would also include a separate 10-year contract to become an ambassador for the 2034 World Cup, which is set to be held in the Gulf state, but those terms and financial numbers are yet to be discussed.
Although an official, formal offer has yet to be presented, Vinicius has not dismissed the move and gave permission to the PIF to approach Real, the sources said.
Despite being “happy and motivated” in the Spanish capital, the player and his representatives believe that a lucrative offer like this needs to be studied carefully.
Another source close to the player said that Real have shown no interest in negotiating a transfer, highlighting the player’s €1 billion buy-out clause.
Real and PIF did not respond to requests for comment.
Obsessed to be taken seriously as a football force, Saudi Arabia announced a Sports Clubs Investment and Privatisation Project, with PIF taking ownership of 75 per cent of the capital of the country’s four main clubs – Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr.
The biggest Saudi transfer came from the country’s most successful club, Al-Hilal, who spent €90 million to buy forward Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain.
With Karim Benzema at Al-Ittihad and Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, PIF last season tried to persuade France captain Kylian Mbappe to be the big name Al-Ahli are still missing.
The forward, however, turned down the lucrative offer and joined Real in June.
The proposal for Vinicius is understood to be similar to the Mbappe offer. The Brazilian would join Al-Ahli, linking up with former Premier League players Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino.
Vinicius, who is under contract until 2027 after signing an extension in 2022, is a contender to win the Ballon d'Or award for the best player in the world after helping Real to a Champions League and La Liga double last season.
Although the 24-year-old is said to be happy playing his football in Spain, he has been the victim of racial abuse on numerous occasions.
In June, he welcomed the eight-month prison sentences handed down to three Valencia fans for racially abusing him during a La Liga match in 2023.
In January 2023, a dark-skinned effigy wearing a Vinicius shirt was found hanging from a bridge near Real’s training ground.
Four Atletico Madrid fans were charged in December over the incident, with prosecutors pushing for jail terms of four years. No date has yet been set for a trial.
REUTERS, AFP
