Vinicius Junior said he wanted to renew his contract at Real Madrid as soon as possible despite a continuing relationship with a large-cost move to Saudi Arabia.
ESPN has reported that the Saudi Arabian Pro League remains interested in recruiting Vinicius even though the forward tends to stay in Bernabeu, with initial talks on a new contract underway after last month's meeting.
Vinicius will play for Real Madrid in the first match of the Champions League last 16 against rival Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, after becoming a star in the knockout playoff match against Manchester City.
"I am very calm because I have a contract until 2027 and let's hope we can renew my contract as soon as possible," Vinicius told a pre-match press conference on Monday, March 3, 2025.
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"I'm happy here, playing with the best players in the world, the best coach (Carlo Ancelotti), the best president (Florentino Perez), where everyone loves me."
"I can't be in a better place than here," he said again.
Vinicius has won two Champions League titles with Real Madrid - scoring in both finals in 2022 and 2024 - and was named FIFA Player of the Year last year.
ESPN reported last summer that representatives from the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund had been in contact with the Brazil international, who later postponed a long-term decision on its future until 2025.
"I'm here to make history, with everything this club has given me."
"Hopefully I can score more goals, play more games in this shirt."
"My dream as a child is to play here. Now that I am here, I can win more and record the history of this club, which is difficult to do with all the great legends who have played here," said Vinicius.
Apart from that, Vinicius discussed the referee. He believes referees in the Champions League offer more protection to players than in Spain, where Real Madrid are critical of the refereeing body.
"In Europe, the referee is more of an entertaining player. It is important to us that they will punish the players who kicked us and stop the game."
"We don't like talking about referees, but of course it's important. Referees don't give cards to others."
"Then when I complained for the first time, I got a card. I did a lot of things I shouldn't have done, but I thought I was getting better, I was calmer. People forgot that I was only 24 years old," said Vinicius.
Meanwhile, Vinicius revealed that Real Madrid was the club that chose to boycott the Ballon d'Or 2024 ceremony when it was discovered that he would be in second place in the race for the best male player award, behind Rodri of Manchester City.
"I did what the club said. The club asked me to stay at Real Madrid and I stay there," he said.
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