Marca: Vinicius and Real Madrid contract renewal talks are far from being concluded, Saudi interest has cooled down

Real Madrid drew 2-2 with Elche in this round of La Liga, and Vinicius performed sluggishly as a substitute. "Marca" pointed out that the contract renewal negotiations between Vinicius and Real Madrid are far from completed, and the interest from Saudi Arabia has cooled down.

The media stated that Vinicius's status as a substitute and his purely "professional" relationship with Xavi Alonso have cast a shadow over the contract renewal negotiations that have not yet been settled. Vinicius was once again a substitute against Elche. Unlike other previous games, he failed to contribute to Real Madrid's victory this time. He came on as a left-winger - Xavi Alonso started Rodrygo in that position - but failed to have the same effect as a deadlock-breaker away from home against the likes of Oviedo or Getafe.

This Sunday's start in Elche is the fourth time Vinicius has served as a substitute this season (three times in the league and once in the Champions League). Admittedly, the winger played 180 minutes in two friendlies for Brazil (against Senegal and Tunisia) in the last international window in 2025. According to Alonso, Vinicius's decision to serve as a substitute was made after communication between the two parties. "No problem, we communicated in advance as usual. He understands and knows his role. Although today's result is disappointing, everyone is full of fighting spirit to get back on track. " The Real Madrid coach explained after the away draw.

But in fact, Vinicius is not completely satisfied with the way Xavi Alonso is employed, which has been made public in the national derby. The decision to be substituted in the second half against Barcelona left the players emotional and even sparked controversy within Real Madrid - with the technical staff divided over the coach's decision.

According to "Marca", it was learned from sources close to the players that the relationship between Vinicius and Alonso strictly maintains the "professional" category. Vinicius misses the warmth and closeness of Carlo Ancelotti (who is now coaching the Brazilian team). That kind of father-like care once made Vinicius an indispensable core in the team and showed his best form in the 23-24 season.

In addition, Alonso's decision to reuse Rodrigo and use Vinicius as a backup also failed to bear fruit. The former Santos player has yet to score or assist this season (29 consecutive games without scoring), and his offensive contribution in Elche at least clearly needs to be improved. What cannot be ignored is that Rodrigo also started two games for Brazil during the recent international match, although he (almost) did not play the full 90 minutes in both games.

The new situation faced by Vinicius has also brought variables to his contract renewal negotiations with Real Madrid-the current contract expires in 2027. The media pointed out that the two parties had differences on the length of the new contract and economic conditions, and were far from reaching an agreement. Although Saudi Arabia had shown strong interest, it has gradually cooled down in recent months, and the Brazilians have not yet received a substantial offer.

Although no European club has made a formal offer, Real Madrid still has reason to be vigilant: Vinicius will enter the contract year next summer, which is always a sensitive stage for clubs that hold player ownership. Real Madrid have taken advantage of this situation many times to sign important players, such as Courtois and Hazard in the past.

The cold relationship between Vinicius and Xabi Alonso has made this even worse. After all, the club firmly supports the new coach in promoting the team's mid-term reform plan. Alonso's contract lasts for three years. Although his recent results have not met expectations, the club still supports him to handle the Derby turmoil in his own way. At this moment, all eyes are focused on Wednesday’s Champions League battle.