Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr has reaffirmed his commitment to the club, expressing his desire to extend his contract despite reported interest from the Saudi Pro League.
The 24-year-old Brazilian, whose current deal runs until 2027, emphasized his happiness at the reigning Champions League holders.
“I am very calm because my contract lasts until 2027, and I hope to renew as soon as possible because I am happy here,” Vinicius said. “I am living the dream of playing with the best players in the world, the best coach, the best president, and the best fans. Everyone here loves me so much. I couldn’t be in a better place.”
Vinicius joined Real Madrid from Flamengo in 2018 and has since won three La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies. He has made 300 appearances for the club, scoring 102 goals.
Madrid continue their Champions League title defense on Tuesday when they face city rivals Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Reflecting on his journey, Vinicius said: “As a child, my dream was to make it here. Now that I have, I’m writing my story. I’ve won a lot, but I can still win much more and secure my place in the club’s history. That’s difficult because so many legends have been here, but I want to be just like them.”
Ballon d’Or Absence and Future Aspirations
In 2024, Vinicius won his first major individual award, being named FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year. However, he narrowly missed out on the Ballon d’Or, finishing behind Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri.
Real Madrid reportedly boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris after learning Vinicius would not win, stating they would not attend an event where they felt the club was “not respected.”
Asked about his absence, Vinicius said: “I did what the club told me to do. They asked me to stay in Madrid, so I calmly stayed. Now we wait for the next one.”
While winning the prestigious award is not his primary focus, Vinicius acknowledged that coming close has fueled his ambition.
“I never dreamt about winning the Ballon d’Or, but once you are so close, you want it,” he admitted. “I’ll have many chances to win more awards, but what matters most is winning silverware with this club. I’ve won two Champions Leagues so far, and I’m here to win many more.”
