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Topics: Saudi Pro League, Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid
Josh Lawless
The Saudi Pro League are reportedly preparing a mammoth proposal for Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr as contract talks stall.
Vinicius dominated headlines this week after boycotting the Ballon d'Or ceremony, where the Brazilian finished second to Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri.
But Relevo have also provided an update on the 24-year-old's situation. According to the outlet, Real have been in touch with Vinicius' agents regarding the possibility of starting negotiations for a contract renewal.
It was only last year that he extended 2027 in a deal which had been agreed long before and saw him become one of the top earners at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, it's said things have not progressed - with Vinicius thanking the club for the interest and instead focusing on his football.
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He is waiting for the right moment to open contract talks up again but in the background is still an astronomical offer from Saudi Arabia.
Back in August, Vinicius received a whopping €1 billion (£854 million) offer for five seasons. It would have made him the highest-paid player in the world by some distance but Vinicius stayed put.
The interest in Vinicius very much remains, though, with Saudi chiefs keen on making him the new face of the league.
Although they have Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar in the division, it's believed they are willing to repeat the proposal in the summer.
In September, Al Ahli chief Khaled Al Issa confirmed that interest in Vinicius was very much real after they let Allan Saint-Maximin but they shifted priorities.
"The competent technical committee, which includes the technical director, decided to leave Maximin because it was easier in terms of the sale process, and the amount of the deal could be borne by any other club," he told Koora Rotana', via Goal.
"There was a desire to bring in a very big winger, Vinicius, from Real Madrid, but during the negotiations something unexpected happened, which was the Saudi players leaving to go professional in accordance with the scholarship program, and the striker Firas Al-Braikan was scheduled to leave.
"Our priority shifted from the winger to the spearhead based on the departure of Al-Braikan, and we entered into negotiations with Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen, and it ended with [Ivan] Toney's arrival."