Reports confirm that Vinícius Júnior will renew his contract with Real Madrid.

This means Vinícius will remain one of the club’s key stars, with Real Madrid officially announcing the contract extension at the end of the season. Despite lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia—reportedly astronomical figures—the forward, who will turn 25 in July, has chosen to stay.

The news quickly spread worldwide, sparking mixed reactions. Spanish analyst Julio Pulido disagrees with Real Madrid’s decision: “In my opinion, Vinícius made the right choice by staying; moving to Saudi Arabia at this stage of his career would be a mistake. However, I believe Real Madrid is making a mistake because the club’s future does not depend on Vinícius. Keeping this version of Vinícius, who gets angry, constantly protests on the pitch, and is becoming less influential, is not ideal.”

Pulido emphasized Kylian Mbappé’s role: “My opinion goes beyond what we think. Recently, I’ve heard more Madridistas express frustration with Vinícius’s behavior and the controversies surrounding him.”

Another expert, Talavéra, discussed Vinícius’s salary increase and its impact on Real Madrid’s dressing room leadership: “In the salary hierarchy, Vinícius will rise to the top, meaning he will become the team’s leader. Leadership issues have persisted; Mbappé has neither been able nor willing to take on this role, and the contract renewal brings Vinícius closer to this position.”

Carneiro provided details on salaries: “Currently, Mbappé, Vinícius, and Bellingham earn the same—€15 million net each. Vinícius’s salary will increase to €20-25 million. However, including signing bonuses, Mbappé still earns the most, but Vinícius will have the highest fixed salary.”