Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior Mulls Potential Move to Saudi Arabia
Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid's 24-year-old winger, is reportedly considering a substantial offer to join the Saudi Pro League (SPL) this summer.
According to reports from ESPN's Gustavo Hofman and Alex Kirkland, the Brazilian star has not yet ruled out the possibility of playing in the Middle East after his representatives engaged in discussions with Saudi officials, who proposed an annual salary of up to €350 million.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which holds a 75% stake in the country's four largest football clubs, has also been involved in talks with Real Madrid about the potential transfer.
However, ESPN notes that the Spanish club would prefer to retain Vinicius, who contributed significantly to their success last season by scoring 24 goals across all competitions as Real Madrid secured both La Liga and the Champions League titles.
As of now, Real Madrid has not received a formal offer for Vinicius. The potential transfer is complicated by the €1-billion release clause in Vinicius's contract, which means that any prospective deal would require Real Madrid's agreement to a bid below this amount.
The PIF is reportedly interested in including Vinicius in Saudi Arabia's plans to host the 2034 World Cup, positioning him as a key ambassador for the tournament.
