The exit of Xabi Alonso from the role of Real Madrid manager has altered the dynamics regarding Vinícius Júnior‘s chances for a contract extension, several sources informed ESPN, noting that Alonso had been seen as a significant barrier to finalizing a new agreement.
Current star Vinícius has a contract with Madrid that runs until June 2027, with discussions about renewal having been stagnant since last May.
Alonso exited the club on Monday — replaced by Álvaro Arbeloa — following months of mounting pressure that peaked with Madrid’s defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa final last weekend.
One source informed ESPN that the chances of a renewal would have been deemed «non-existent» had Alonso remained at the helm.
New manager Arbeloa has commended Vinícius, embracing his eagerness to participate — while other key players rested — in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey defeat against Albacete.
Nevertheless, despite Alonso’s departure, a major hurdle in negotiating a new contract persists. The disparity between the salary that the Brazilian desires and what the club is prepared to provide is still considered significant.
Vinícius currently receives approximately €17 million ($19.75m) net annually.
Sources indicated to ESPN that in their most recent discussions in May 2025, Madrid offered the player around €20m.
Afterward, negotiations came to a halt because Vinícius requested an extra €10m in bonuses to finalize the deal.
ESPN has reported earlier that Vinícius’ associates anticipated that talks would not resume until after the summer’s 2026 World Cup, leading him to enter the last year of his current contract.
However, the shift following Xabi Alonso’s departure has altered the landscape, sources remarked, and the LaLiga club is now likely to initiate fresh negotiations.
Vinícius’ representatives believe that Real Madrid is nearing the cap of what they can commit to salaries, making it challenging to raise their proposal of €20m net per season.
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Nevertheless, they contend that there is potential to enhance this offer through bonuses, similar to the approach taken to persuade Kylian Mbappé to transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.
Multiple sources told ESPN that there was a shared belief that Alonso had become a hindrance to the resumption of negotiations due to his coaching choices.
Vinícius was a clear first-choice under Alonso’s predecessor, Carlo Ancelotti, yet his relationship with Alonso was tense from the outset of the coach’s tenure last summer.
ESPN noted that Alonso had intended to keep Vinícius on the bench during Madrid’s Club World Cup semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain, and only a last-minute Trent Alexander-Arnold injury prompted a change of heart that allowed the Brazilian to play.
Vinícius featured in 33 matches under Alonso, yet only completed nine of them, and in four instances, he started as a substitute.
The most notable incident in their relationship occurred during the Clásico against Barcelona in October, which Real Madrid won 2-1 at the Bernabéu.
Vinícius expressed strong discontent when he was substituted midway through the second half.
Subsequently, the player issued an apology on social media, carefully avoiding direct reference to his coach.
In the weeks that followed, despite public displays of support from Alonso and gestures like hugs on the sideline, the relationship remained strictly professional and cordial, as reported by a source to ESPN.
After the coach’s termination, Vinícius was among the few players who did not post a farewell message on social platforms.
This season, the forward has faced challenges regarding form, contributing six goals and seven assists for his team.
ESPN’s Alex Kirkland contributed to this report.
