At Real Madrid, they no longer hide their unease. What began as a routine negotiation to update Vinícius Júnior's contract has turned into a cold war.
The positions are completely opposed and the tension is rising. The Brazilian won't give in, and Florentino Pérez won't either. Now, the most feared scenario is starting to take shape.
Vinícius has a valid contract with Real Madrid until June 2027. If the club doesn't agree to his latest salary demand, he has made it clear what his response will be.
He won't renew, he won't accept being transferred, and he'll leave as a free agent when his contract ends. In other words: he'll leave Madrid without a single euro in the coffers from his departure.
Florentino's greatest fear
There's no other topic of conversation in Valdebebas. The Brazilian's decision has come as a cold shower. According to sources close to the board, Florentino feels betrayed.
He believes the club has protected, defended, and pampered Vinícius since he arrived as a teenager. The club gave him trust even when his first seasons raised more doubts than certainties.
They defended him against criticism, supported him during the worst episodes of racism in Spain's stadiums. They also progressively increased his salary until he became one of the highest-paid on the team.
That's why the president can't understand this financial standoff with hints of blackmail. They believe the player is being poorly advised.
PSG shows interest in the matter
The forward has a clear strategy: he doesn't want to leave Real Madrid now, but he also won't renew unless he's guaranteed a higher salary than Mbappé's. Since the club isn't willing to break the locker room's wage structure, he'll simply wait.
He'll stay with the team, fulfill his contract, and in June 2027, at just 26, he'll leave as a free agent to the club that pays him the most lucrative signing bonus. Saudi Arabia, the Premier League, and the United States are already taking note.
The ticking time bomb is activated
Florentino doesn't want to reach that point. That's why he's seriously considering a sale in 2025 or 2026, while he can still secure a significant transfer fee. But if Vinícius refuses—as he has already warned—Madrid will be left handcuffed.
In the executive offices at Bernabéu, they know they have a problem. A very serious one. Because if the Brazilian follows through on his threat, the betrayal will be twofold: they'll lose a star... and at the same time, the club will make a disastrous deal.