Vinicius Jr tells Real Madrid he won’t renew while Xabi Alonso relationship remains difficult – The Athletic

Vinicius Junior has told Real Madrid that he does not want to renew his contract while his relationship with head coach Xabi Alonso remains so strained.

The message was relayed in a conversation between Vinicius Jr and Madrid president Florentino Perez late last month, according to three sources with close knowledge of the meeting. Like all sources consulted for this article, they asked not to be named to protect relationships.

Vinicius Jr’s contract runs until the end of June 2027. Talks over an extension started in January but stalled after the two sides could not reach an agreement.

Following Madrid’s 2-1 Clasico victory over Barcelona on October 26, Vinicius Jr went to see Perez to apologise for his behaviour during the match. He had reacted angrily after being substituted by Alonso in the 72nd minute, storming off the pitch and shouting: “Always me, I’m leaving the team, it’s better if I leave, I’m leaving.”

At that meeting, the subject of Vinicius Jr’s future was also discussed. He made it known that he feels extending is not the best option for him due to his relationship with Alonso. There has been no change in that position since.

Sources close to the Brazilian have several times told The Athletic of concerns he has with Alonso, who was appointed as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement back in May. Over the first three months of the new season, tensions have only grown. Now, it is a topic of daily debate inside and outside the club.

Vinicius Jr’s relationship with Alonso has been difficult (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

The origins of these tensions can be traced back to Madrid’s 4-0 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup semi-final on July 9.

Alonso planned to bench Vinicius Jr for that game, but an injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold eventually forced him to change his plan and the Brazilian did start — albeit on the right wing rather than his favoured spot on the left. Since then, he has only completed five of Madrid’s 17 games in all competitions so far this campaign, starting on the bench four times, including Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Elche.

Vinicius Jr believes Alonso is not being fair to him, and when he published an apology letter on social media after his outburst during the Barca game, he did not mention his manager by name — despite specifically referring to several others, including Perez.

Sources close to Vinicius Jr said it was a deliberate move. It caused widespread surprise at the club, including among the coaching staff, as Alonso had been present when the Brazilian also apologised to the group in person at Madrid’s training ground.

Alonso has spoken about his relationship with Vinicius Jr several times at press conferences this season. He has been keen to stress that there is no personal issue between them and that rotation in selection is important to the team. In recent weeks, Alonso has often appeared frustrated by the ongoing drama around the situation.

Vinicius Jr signed fresh terms at Madrid in 2022, the details of which were announced a year later. He currently earns around €18million (£15.8m; $20.7m) a year after tax and his contract contains a €1billion release clause.

In 2024, a delegation working on behalf of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) was keen to explore a move for him to join a Saudi Pro League club. It would have involved lucrative personal terms, but did not develop into anything concrete.

Earlier this year, Madrid made Vinicius Jr a renewal offer, including an increase in salary to around €20million net a year. When this was not accepted, the club asked the player’s side to propose a figure.

Vinicius Jr’s representatives requested a historic contract, in the region of the highest ever at the club (which was given to Cristiano Ronaldo), with a package of up to €30million per season. This included base salary, performance bonuses and a renewal bonus, something which has not been offered to players at Real Madrid previously.

Further talks were held before the start of the season, but now have stalled. Madrid understand that, beyond the financial differences, the difficult situation between one of their star players and their head coach is a handicap in attempts to move negotiations forward.

Perez, 78, has been Madrid president since June 2009 (Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images)

Vinicius Jr’s stance may be interpreted by some as a negotiating tactic, but all sources consulted for this article said he simply does not think that committing his long-term future makes sense right now, given his relationship with Alonso. This has not come as a surprise at Madrid, but it has caused concern.

A sign of this concern can perhaps be read in the response from Madrid’s communications department to a request for official comment for this article. While The Athletic was able to confirm the details of what was discussed at Vinicius Jr’s meeting with Perez through several sources at the club, including at senior level, the communications department denied any such meeting had taken place.

Key figures at Madrid have been aware of Vinicius Jr’s worries about not being afforded the same importance under Alonso as he enjoyed under Ancelotti.

In response, they have sought to show him affection and trust, but that did not stop them from explaining to him — without imposing a fine — that he was wrong to express his anger at being replaced against Barcelona.

Sources on both sides also point to Perez’s fondness for Vinicius Jr. The president has always shown support for the forward, such as when he sat next to him in the VIP box at a match at the Bernabeu after he suffered racist abuse in a game at Valencia in May 2023. Vinicius Jr himself is grateful to Perez — hence why he also included him in his apology after El Clasico.

Madrid are pleased that Alonso is making important changes and that the team are leading La Liga, but at the same time, there is concern about discontent among a significant group of players in the squad, with Vinicius Jr being the clearest example.

Club sources hope that positive results and performances for Madrid and Vinicius Jr will bring him closer to Alonso again, giving them a fresh start. Figures such as Perez and the club’s Spanish-Brazilian chief scout Juni Calafat are also considered key to navigating this situation.