JAKARTA - Vinicius Junior said on Monday, April 6, 2026, local time, that he plans to agree to an extension of his contract at Real Madrid at the right time.
He revealed he wants to be at the club for years ahead of the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal against Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
The star striker has been in superb form in recent weeks, scoring four goals in two games against Manchester City and Atletico Madrid before the international break.
The Brazilian's contract at the Bernabeu expires in June 2027. His future has been called into question after a turbulent season which saw him fall out with coach Xabi Alonso - who was then replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa - and go three months without scoring, before showing signs of improvement in recent months.
"Hopefully I can stay here for a long time. I still have one year left, we are calm. I have the trust of the President (Florentino Perez). We are calm with what we want."
"At the right time we will renew the contract. I will be here for a long time. This is my dream club, I am happy here, and I want to be here for many years," Vinicius said in a press conference on Monday.
Vinicius has become a key player for Real Madrid, scoring in two Champions League final wins in 2022 and 2024 and being named runner-up in the 2024 Ballon d'Or Men's award.
However, he lost his status as a key player under Alonso in the first half of the season and was booed by fans at the Bernabeu after the coach was sacked.
ESPN had previously reported that Vinicius was one of the senior players who was unhappy with Alonso's management style.
"It was a difficult moment. We played a lot of games, but I only got a few minutes of playing time."
"Every coach has his own method, I can't connect with what (Alonso) wants."
"It was a moment to learn, I learned a lot, the players helped me a lot. I could think a lot, grow as a person, and I have a fantastic relationship with Arbeloa," said Vinicius.
Vinicius faced widespread criticism after reacting angrily to being replaced by Alonso in El Clasico victory over Barcelona at the Bernabeu in October 2025.
Then, he made a public apology that did not mention the coach's name.
"It was an unpleasant moment. I apologize to the team, the club, the coach, everyone there. I played every game and I didn't want to leave the field."
"I think I did the right thing, I didn't want to (leave the field), but then with a clear head, you know you've made a mistake. Every day there are new experiences, where I can develop," he said.
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