(Football news) Having been spotted by Blancos scouts while playing for Flamengo, Vinicius endured a slow start to life at the Bernabeu after joining the Spanish giants in a deal worth €45m (£38.5m).
However, since the 2021-22 campaign, Vinicius hit his stride under Carlo Ancelotti, who has overseen his development into one of the most feared attackers in European football.
The Brazil international boasts 83 goals and 75 assists in 264 appearances for Los Blancos in all tournaments, including 24 goals and 11 assists in 39 competitive clashes last term, helping Real complete a Champions League, La Liga and Supercopa de Espana treble.
Despite his status as one of the best players on the planet, and his long-running Bernabeu contract until 2027, Vinicius’s future has been thrown into slight doubt due to Real Madrid’s captures of Kylian Mbappe and Endrick.
Vinicius ‘wants to win Ballon d’Or’ at Real Madrid
Last season, Vinicius and Rodrygo – who has also been linked with a move away – would often form a strike partnership at the tip of Ancelotti’s 4-3-1-2, with Jude Bellingham operating just off the Brazilian pair.
Ancelotti has insisted that Bellingham’s role will not change despite Mbappe’s arrival, meaning that only one attacking spot could be up for grabs alongside the Frenchman if the Real boss does not revert to a 4-3-3 shape.
Aiming to capitalise on the uncertainty, it is claimed that Vinicius’s camp were contacted by a delegation from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, who own Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad.
The PIF apparently want the 24-year-old to become the face of the Saudi Pro League as the country launch a bid to host the 2034 World Cup, and Vinicius could expect a gargantuan wage packet in the Middle East.
However, the report claims that the former Flamengo protege turned down the offer, as he is perfectly happy in the Spanish capital and wants to win the Ballon d’Or while playing for Real Madrid.
The 15-time European champions also have no desire to part ways with Vinicius, and they inserted a €1bn (£856.2m) release clause into his contract when he agreed an extension back in 2022.
Despite failing with their first approach, the Saudi delegation are reportedly expected to rekindle their interest in Vinicius in future transfer windows, although they are likely to receive the same response from both player and club.
Which other stars are Saudi Arabia targeting?
With a small number of exceptions such as Gabri Veiga, last year’s Saudi Pro League recruitment drive focused on signing established stars either in the latter stages of their careers, such as Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante.
The PIF’s pursuit of Vinicius Junior represents a slight shift in strategy as they go after players in the prime of their careers, but they are equally seeking more superstar signings, in particular from the Premier League.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne are thought to be two of the Saudi Pro League’s prime targets, in addition to goalkeeping duo Alisson Becker and Ederson.
The biggest Saudi Pro League transfer so far this summer has been Moussa Diaby’s €60m (£51.4m) switch from Aston Villa to Al-Ittihad, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Houssem Aouar and Nacho Fernandez have also made the move to the Middle East.
Also read: Arsenal face a major blow in the process of selling their forward
