In a major update, ESPN Brazil reports that Real Madrid megastar Vinicius Jr. has not closed the doors on a potential transfer to Saudi Arabia.
Reports emerged earlier today claiming that the Brazilian attacker had received strong interest and lucrative proposals to leave the Santiago Bernabeu for the Middle East but had turned them down.
Talks underway
However, as per the latest information from ESPN Brazil, Vinicius and his entourage have not said no to Saudi Arabia, although they are yet to receive a formal proposal from the interested parties.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns 75 per cent of the capital of the country’s four main clubs: Al Ahli, Al Ittihad, Al Hilal and Al Nassr, is negotiating with Real Madrid to sign the Brazilian, who is seen as the new target of their football’s ambitious expansion plan.
The idea is that Vinicius will be the country’s ambassador for the 2034 World Cup, which will take place in Saudi Arabia.
Bumper offers being considered
As such, the fund’s emissaries approached the Brazilian’s entourage and presented an initial contract offer that would include an annual salary of up to €350 million.
Despite earlier reports suggesting otherwise. Vinicius and his management have not turned down the Saudi offer and are maintaining the possibility of a deal.
Faced with the Brazilian’s stance, the investment fund’s representatives are talking to Real Madrid, who do not want their superstar player to leave and are demanding payment of the €1 billion release clause to put them off.
Vinicius’ entourage believes that if the transfer is to go through, Real Madrid must soften their stance and negotiate a fee lower than his enormous release clause.
The development comes as a surprise considering that the Brazilian has always maintained that he wants to spend his entire career at Real Madrid and is on the cusp of winning the Ballon d’Or with the club.
With three weeks left in the transfer window, it will certainly be intriguing to see whether this story develops into anything more substantial.