Florentino Pérez is starting to see the play clearly. He doesn't like it at all. In the offices at Santiago Bernabéu, they've been analyzing a possibility for weeks that, until recently, seemed unthinkable.
But the moves from Vinícius Júnior's camp leave no room for doubt. The Brazilian is drawing up a roadmap that doesn't fit with what was agreed upon.
When his contract renewal was signed in 2022, Real Madrid thought it had the future under control. The contract extended until 2027. The player was protected with a €1 billion clause.
But at the club, they no longer trust him. The footballer's recent behavior has set off all the alarms.
Silence that makes Bernabéu uncomfortable
What hurts the board the most is that Vinícius hasn't shown any signs of wanting to renew. There are no ongoing talks nor any interest from the player in sitting down to negotiate. The signals coming from his camp are clear: he wants to fulfill his contract and leave as a free agent in 2027.
That would allow Vinícius to sign a multi-million contract with another club without leaving a single euro in Real Madrid's coffers. The money not spent on a transfer would go directly into his pocket as a signing bonus. Florentino doesn't intend to allow such a move.
Florentino Pérez's ultimatum
A decision has already been made at Madrid. If Vinícius doesn't sign a renewal before Christmas, he'll be put on the market.
Florentino doesn't want to repeat cases like Ramos, Varane, or Asensio. The club needs clarity and commitment.
The sporting management, led by Juni Calafat, has already received instructions to prepare. The stance is firm: they won't negotiate with blackmail.
Either he renews in 2025 or the club will seek an immediate sale to avoid a free departure in 2027.
The phantom €350 million offer
For months, there was talk of interest from Saudi Arabia willing to pay €350 million ($380 million) for Vinícius. But that supposed offer never arrived. There weren't even any real contacts.
Madrid has asked around and no one in Saudi Arabia confirms such interest. The conclusion is clear: it was a move by the player's camp to apply pressure.
The problem is that it doesn't work anymore. At the club, they consider it was a bluff. The real plan is another: let the years go by, avoid renewing, and leave as a free agent for a new destination.
Tense atmosphere and uncertain future
What seemed like a love story between Vinícius and Madrid is turning sour. The fans still idolize him, but the club is starting to get tired.
Florentino is clear that, with or without its star, the project must go on. If Vini wants to leave, he should say so. He shouldn't expect to leave for free, because the club invested in him when it signed him.