This summer, several rumours suggested that Saudi Arabia was interested in Vinicius Jr. We now know more about the subject.
This summer, the Spanish press reported a significant offer from Al-Ahli for Vinícius Júnior, with a five-year contract worth €1 billion and an offer of over €200 million for Real Madrid. And it was much more than a rumour, as a Saudi club executive confirmed their interest in the Brazilian. Khaled Al-Issa, chairman of the Al-Ahli Foundation board, confirmed this to Saudi media.
“There was a desire to bring in a very good winger, Vinicius, from Real Madrid, but during the negotiations, something unexpected happened, namely that the Saudi players were leaving to become professionals in accordance with the scholarship programme, and that the striker Firas Al-Braikan was going to turn professional contractually. Our priority shifted from the winger to the striker, and we started negotiations with Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen, and it ended with the arrival of Toney,” explained the executive.
Vini Jr keeps the Saudi Pro League waiting
Will they try their luck next summer? It’s likely… Indeed, Relevo explains this Friday that the Brazilian international, who was to receive a salary of €1 billion over five years and act as an ambassador for the 2034 World Cup, still has a chance to join the Saudi Pro League in the coming years. Although he said no this time, he invited the Saudis to wait and did not completely close the door. For its part, Real Madrid, where his contract ends in June 2027, has always refused to let him go.
Except that the player’s recent comments about racism in Spain and the 2030 World Cup did not go down well internally. Florentino Pérez wants to host the final of the competition. Vini Jr’s outburst has therefore irritated the Madrid management, who are starting to get tired of the many controversies. We are still far from a divorce between the player, who keeps the Saudi door open, and the club, who value him highly. But it is certain that Saudi Arabia will try to take advantage of the situation to dislodge the Brazilian from the Bernabéu.
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