Four Possible Destinations for Real Madrid Star Vinicius Junior—Ranked

The Brazilian’s future in white is looking more and more questionable each day.

Vinicius Junior’s current deal with Real Madrid expires in 2027. / Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Vinicius Junior’s deteriorating relationship with Xabi Alonso has fueled transfer speculation, calling into question the future of Real Madrid’s No. 7.

It is no secret tensions have been brewing between the Brazil international and his new club manager. Vinicius Jr went from being the face of Los Blancos to fighting for minutes under Alonso, who has only kept the superstar on the pitch for 90 minutes in six appearances since taking over.

The winger let his frustrations out in Real Madrid’s 2–1 victory in El Clásico, saying, “I’m leaving the team, it’s better if I leave, I’m leaving” as he stormed off the pitch at the Bernabéu after being replaced in the 72nd minute.

Vinicius Jr has since reportedly stalled his contract extension talks with the Spanish giants, asserting that he will not resign with Los Blancos as long as his relationship with Alonso remains on unsolid ground. The Brazilian’s current deal expires in 2027.

If there’s no solution in the coming months, the possibility of Vinicius Jr leaving Real Madrid next year must be regarded as a serious possibility. In that scenario, which club would be the most likely to sign him?

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4. Arsenal

The final, final piece of the jigsaw? / Alex Pantling/Getty Images

The early indications suggest that Arsenal will end their six-year wait for silverware this season, with the Gunners leading the way in the Premier League after three successive second-place finishes.

They’ve built a squad which is capable of competing on multiple fronts, with their set-piece proficiency and stubborn defense rendering them a mightily tough team to beat.

There are very few holes in Mikel Arteta’s squad, but if there’s one position which supporters believe is upgradeable, it’s down the left-hand side. Both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have been serviceable this season, but many expect the club to make their next big splash in this area of the pitch.

Arsenal have been linked with Rodrygo and Rafael Leão in recent windows, but perhaps their newfound status as one of Europe’s top dogs will give them the courage to make a play for Vinicius Jr in 2026.

He’d cost the Gunners far too much, both in terms of transfer fee and wages, but the Premier League leaders are one of the very few feasible destinations for the Madrid superstar.

Likelihood rating: 2/10

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3. Paris Saint-Germain

The Kylian Mbappé saga means there’s no love lost between the two hierarchies. / Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Getty Images

Vinicius Jr’s reported £350,000 ($464,810) a week salary wouldn‘t frighten the Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain, nor would Madrid’s supposed asking price of £220 million ($292 million).

Thus, we must consider Paris Saint-Germain as a possible landing spot for the Brazilian winger, but there are a couple of major reasons why Vinicius Jr would likely never directly move from the Spanish to the French capital.

Firstly, the relationship between the two hierarchies has been strained by the Kylian Mbappé saga, which eventually concluded in 2024 when the Frenchman joined Madrid on a not-so-free transfer. Things may have been smoothed over since then, with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi calling on Los Blancos to rejoin the football “family” amid their continued advocacy of the Super League project.

However, it just doesn’t seem likely for Florentino Pérez to sell one of his ’galácticos’ to a Champions League rival.

PSG also simply don’t need Vinicius Jr when they’ve got Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué, Ousmané Dembélé and Bradley Barcola at their disposal.

The old policy of chasing the biggest names didn’t thrust them to their ultimate goal.

Likelihood rating: 3/10

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2. Man City

Man City have felt Vini Jr’s wrath on multiple occasions. / David Ramos/Getty Images

There have been tenuous rumors in the past regarding a potential Man City bid for Vinicius Jr, and the Cityzens may well be keeping a close eye on the Brazilian’s situation in Madrid.

Like PSG, City have a cesspit of cash at their disposal, and agreeing to Madrid’s demands are unlikely to be an issue—if Pep Guardiola deems the acquisition of the 25-year-old necessary, of course.

The Cityzens’ boss has previously labelled the Brazilian an “incredible” footballer, and seemed to hint that he was hard done by when he missed out on the 2024 Ballon d’Or to one of Pep’s players, Rodri.

However, the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) render any pursuit of Vinicius Jr difficult. He’d be entering the last year of his Madrid contract next summer, but Los Blancos have every right to demand a fortune for his services.

The Manchester club have also come under scrutiny for a long list of financial misgivings, too, so it perhaps wouldn’t be the wisest move to consider pulling off one of the most expensive transfers of all time.

Likelihood rating: 4/10

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1. Al Ahli

The Saudis are working hard to bring the Brazilian to the Middle East. / Dan Mullan/Getty Images

In reality, it’s Real Madrid or Saudi Arabia for Vinicius Jr.

The electric samba star is exactly the player the Saudi Pro League craves. They’ve got past-it superstars and a couple of decently high-profile players in their prime, but none of Vinicius Jr’s standing.

Seeing one of the world’s best move to the Middle East could mark a major shift in the sport’s hegemony, with the Saudis boasting the gusto and, most importantly, money to pull this move off.

There are reports of a billion-dollar proposal being sent the 25-year-old’s way to function as the face of Saudi football, with Al Ahli previously regarded as the most likely destination if he were to join the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

There’s seemingly no rush for Saudi Arabia to scoop up the Madrid superstar, with some suggesting they’d be willing to wait until 2028 to see him move. However, Saudi clubs could pounce on his current situation in Madrid and make a move next year, having been rebuffed in 2024.

Likelihood rating: 6/10

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