Vinicius Jr wanted by 2 Premier League clubs as Real Madrid fear Ballon d'Or snub could force Brazilian to leave LaLiga: Reports
Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr is reportedly on the radar of Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea amid his controversial Ballon d'Or snub. The Los Blancos ace lost the golden ball race to Manchester City star Rodri this year, standing second in the rankings.
Vinicius Jr has risen to become one of the most significant Real Madrid players in the last few seasons. The Brazilian signed for the Spanish giants in 2018 from Brazilian side Flamengo for a reported €45 million. In 279 appearances for the Spanish giants, Vinicius has recorded 91 goals and 82 assists across competitions. He has won two Champions League titles and three LaLiga titles with Real Madrid.
According to a report by Relevo, Vinicius Jr could consider leaving Real Madrid after his recent Ballon d'Or snub. Given his exceptional performances last season, multiple European giants are interested in signing him, including Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
The aforementioned report claims that Vinicius' recent Ballon d'Or snub has put him in a complicated position with regards to his contract renewal with Los Blancos. The Brazilian was reportedly considering using the supposed win to negotiate a more lucrative deal from the Spanish giants.
However, with the golden ball off the table, Real Madrid might not fulfill all his demands. This keeps multiple other options open for the Selecao superstar. The Brazilian's current contract with Los Blancos runs until 2027 with a reported release clause of €1 billion.
"I'll do it 10x if I have to" - Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. gives message after Ballon d'Or snub
Shortly after Manchester City star Rodri was declared the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, Vinicius Jr. took to X to share his message. He wrote (translation from Portuguese):
"I'll do it 10x if I have to. They're not ready."
In the months leading upto France Football's ceremony in Paris, it was widely reported that Vinicius Jr. was a major favorite to win the award. However, hours ahead of the ceremony, reports claimed Rodri won the golden ball over Vinicius. This led Real Madrid to boycott the event, with no representative from their club attending the ceremony.
Vinicius Jr. had an exceptional 2023-24 season, as he won the UEFA Champions League, LaLiga and the Supercopa de Espana with the Spanish giants. The Selecao ace recorded 24 goals and 11 assists in 39 outings for Los Blancos across competitions.
The Brazilian delivered impressive performances in the Champions League semi-finals against Bayern (4-3 win on aggregate) and final against Borussia Dortmund (2-0 win). He also scored a hat-trick in their 4-1 win against Barcelona in the Supercopa final.
Multiple former Los Blancos legends and current players have come out in support of Vini Jr, indicating he was the deserving Ballon d'Or winner. The Brazilian superstar has been continuing his impressive form this season, with eight goals and seven assists in 15 outings for the Merengues.