Vinicius Asks Real Madrid for €20 Million: Why Is the Deal Dragging On?

Vinicius Junior Vinicius wants to stay at Real Madrid, and the Spanish club is also keen to continue working with the Brazilian star. However, the new contract has become far more complicated than a simple salary negotiation: the parties must agree on annual pay, image rights and a one-off bonus.

According to Spain’s AS, the forward wants to earn around €20 million net per season, increase his share of income from his commercial image and receive a separate bonus for extending the contract. However, neither the club nor the player has officially confirmed these figures.

€20 million — salary alone

According to AS, Vinicius’s current contract, signed in 2022, provides for total net wages of €75 million over five seasons. That equals an average of €15 million per season.

The contract is structured progressively: the player’s annual income initially stood at around €10 million and is expected to reach approximately €18 million in the final season. It also includes an additional payment linked to an individual award.

The €20 million reportedly requested in the new agreement is the amount the player would receive after taxes. Therefore, the club’s total cost, including salary, taxes and other mandatory payments, would be significantly higher.

Real Madrid’s official statement confirmed that Vinicius’s current agreement runs until 30 June 2027. The club has not yet publicly disclosed the terms of the new negotiations.

Image rights could be the main sticking point

Vinicius is one of Real Madrid’s key assets not only because of his performances on the pitch but also because of his commercial value.

According to AS, Real Madrid currently owns nearly 50% of the rights to use the player’s commercial image. The Brazilian forward wants to increase his share in the new contract.

Image rights may cover income from the following areas:

• advertising contracts;

• commercial content on social media;

• use of the player’s name and likeness;

• partnerships with personal sponsors;

• advertising campaigns involving various brands.

Vinicius has numerous personal contracts with international companies. As a result, even a small change in image rights could have major financial significance for both the player and the club. This is an analytical conclusion based on his sponsorship portfolio and commercial status.

Why is the player asking for a separate bonus?

AS reports that a one-off “extension bonus” for the new contract has also become part of the negotiations. Its exact amount has not been disclosed.

The player’s side may have a clear rationale: Vinicius is entering the final year of his contract. If the agreement is not extended, he could become a free agent in the summer of 2027 and receive a major signing bonus from another club.

For that reason, his representatives may be trying to compensate for part of that opportunity through a new-contract bonus in exchange for staying at Real Madrid. However, this is an analysis based on the structure of the negotiations; neither the bonus request nor its amount has been officially confirmed.

AS and Cadena SER reports differ

Spanish media outlets are publishing conflicting reports about the financial details of the negotiations.

AS wrote on 3 August that Vinicius had reduced his previous demand from approximately €30 million to €20 million and now wants a net salary around that figure. According to the outlet, the player’s main objective is to extend his contract with Real Madrid.

Cadena SER, meanwhile, reported that the club’s previous offer was around €20 million, that Vinicius rejected it and that negotiations had stalled. The source said the Brazilian expects to be valued at the same level as the team’s highest earners.

Therefore, it is too early to treat the claim that “Vinicius is demanding exactly €20 million” as an official condition. Even reliable Spanish sources disagree over which side proposed the €20 million figure.

Why have negotiations stalled at the final stage?

According to AS, the previous face-to-face meeting between the parties took place after the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

At that point, the player had lowered his initial financial demand, while Real Madrid improved its offer. The parties came very close to an agreement, but the contract was not signed because neither side wanted to make further concessions on the remaining issues.

Three main issues are now making the negotiations difficult:

1. Salary hierarchy

If Real Madrid offers Vinicius a major salary, it may also have to revise the contracts of other leading players in the squad.

2. Image rights

It is natural that the club does not want to lose a significant share of the commercial revenue generated by the player. Vinicius, meanwhile, wants to retain a larger portion of those rights as his global advertising value grows.

3. One-off bonus

If the bonus is very large, the new contract’s total value could substantially exceed the annual salary.

Therefore, the gap in the negotiations cannot be explained simply by the question of “€15 million or €20 million.” The parties are negotiating the contract’s full economic value.

Who benefits from time?

Vinicius’s contract expires in the summer of 2027. Under the current transfer rules, from January 2027 he will be able to sign a pre-contract with foreign clubs for the following season.

This strengthens the player’s negotiating position. The less time remains on the contract, the closer other clubs get to being able to sign him without paying a transfer fee.

For Real Madrid, the window for an important decision is narrowing. If a new agreement is not reached, the club could face three main scenarios:

1. Move closer to the player’s terms and extend the agreement.

2. Consider selling him before the contract expires.

3. Keep Vinicius for one more season and accept his departure as a free agent in 2027.

Cadena SER also noted that the situation could soon lead to one of these three scenarios.

For Real Madrid, it is not just about football

Alongside his decisive actions on the pitch, Vinicius has a major impact on the club’s international marketing value. His departure could therefore represent both a sporting and commercial loss for Real Madrid.

However, accepting all of the player’s demands could also set a precedent for the club. In future negotiations, other leaders may ask for large bonuses, higher salaries or a greater share of image rights.

From this perspective, Real Madrid’s task is not simply to keep Vinicius. The club must find a formula that recognizes his value without disrupting the team’s overall financial and salary structure.

He wants to stay, but no signature yet

The key point in the latest reports is that Vinicius’s priority remains staying at Real Madrid. The Madrid club also wants to extend his contract.

However, both sides wanting the same outcome does not automatically guarantee an agreement. If they cannot find a balance over a net salary of around €20 million, image rights and a one-off bonus, the negotiations could drag on again.

For now, the only confirmed official information is that Vinicius’s contract with Real Madrid runs until 30 June 2027. The remaining financial details are reports circulating in the Spanish media that have not been confirmed by either side.

Do you think Real Madrid should accept Vinicius’s demands, or should the club prioritize its salary structure? Share your opinion in the comments and send the article to sports fans on Telegram or other social networks!