In an astonishing turn of events that has sent shockwaves reverberating through the footballing world, Saudi Arabia’s Pro League is gearing up to table an astronomical €300 million bid for Real Madrid’s electrifying Brazilian winger Vinícius Júnior. The audacious swoop would smash the existing world transfer record to smithereens, underlining the Gulf nation’s skyrocketing ambitions and financial might in the beautiful game.
An Offer Too Good to Refuse?
According to the bombshell report splashed across the front page of Spanish daily Diario AS, the Saudis are prepared to stump up an eye-watering €300 million transfer fee to prize Vinícius away from the Santiago Bernabéu. The deal would obliterate the current record of €222 million, set when Neymar ditched Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.
However, Real Madrid are expected to play hardball, with AS claiming that Los Blancos would flatly refuse to entertain any offer below Vinícius’ whopping €1 billion release clause – unless the 24-year-old Brazilian sensation himself agitates for a move. Naturally, the Saudis hope to turn his head with an astronomical contract offer that would see him pocket an obscene €200 million per season over five years.
The Saudis know that the only way to make this happen is to drive a wedge between Vinícius and Real Madrid. They’re willing to pay him €1 billion over five years, an amount that would be impossible for him to turn down.
An anonymous source close to the negotiations
Riyadh Reloaded
The Saudi Pro League’s concerted push to establish itself as a genuine force is nothing new, with a raft of household names lured to the Gulf in recent years by the promise of staggering salaries. Cristiano Ronaldo led the charge when he inked a lucrative deal with Al Nassr in December, but he’s since been joined by a host of stars including Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté, and Roberto Firmino.
However, landing a bonafide world-beater like Vinícius Júnior – who at 24 is just entering his prime – would represent a seismic coup. The former Flamengo prodigy has established himself as one of the most devastating attackers on the planet, forming a lethal partnership with Benzema as Real Madrid swept to La Liga and Champions League glory.
Biding Their Time
Crucially, this isn’t the first time the Saudis have come calling. ESPN reported that the Pro League sounded out Vinícius’ representatives as far back as December to make crystal clear their keen interest in engineering a deal. That approach came hot on the heels of a similar attempt last summer.
For now, Vinícius appears content in the Spanish capital, where he’s flourished into a talismanic figure and fan favorite. But with the Saudis apparently willing to move heaven and earth to secure his signature, the ball is very much in the court of both club and player. Watch this space.
