Manchester City are keeping a close watch on VinÃcius Júnior’s contract situation at Real Madrid, with the Brazilian forward’s future in Spain increasingly uncertain amid a stand-off over wages, according to report.
The 26-year-old winger, who has been a talisman for Real Madrid since arriving from Flamengo in 2018, has just one year remaining on his current deal.
Talks over an extension have stalled, with the report suggesting VinÃcius is holding out for terms comparable to those handed to Kylian Mbappé — a package reportedly worth in excess of £480,000 a week, according to figures circulating in the Spanish press.
Real Madrid have not been idle in response. The club have tabled an improved offer built around performance-related bonuses, but the two parties remain some distance apart, and no agreement looks imminent.
The uncertainty is compounded by this summer’s World Cup, a tournament that could yet push VinÃcius’s value even higher and add fresh urgency to a deal either side.
For City, the situation is one to watch rather than one to force. Sources close to the club, describe any potential move for the forward as contingent on Real Madrid’s willingness to sell rather than City applying pressure of their own.
That is a significant caveat — Madrid have shown little historical appetite for letting one of their brightest attacking talents leave on anything but their own terms, and City would still need to navigate a wage structure that has traditionally been more conservative than the numbers being discussed in Madrid.
Maresca’s rebuild continues regardless
Whatever happens with VinÃcius, City’s new head coach Enzo Maresca is already reshaping his attacking options without waiting on a marquee move.
Jérémy Doku has established himself as first choice out wide, while the club have also brought in 17-year-old Jeremy Monga from Leicester City in a deal reported at around £10m — a signing that points to City continuing to blend first-team reinforcement with an eye on long-term potential.
There is also a homegrown story developing on the flanks. Academy graduate Ryan McAidoo, also 17, has been given minutes in pre-season under Maresca’s new coaching set-up.
The interest in VinÃcius fits into a wider pattern of activity at the Etihad this summer. City have already broken their transfer record to sign Elliot Anderson, while further additions have come in the form of Mathys Detourbet and Pierce Charles.
Between marquee arrivals and academy graduates being fast-tracked into contention, the picture emerging under Maresca is of a squad being rebuilt with both immediate impact and future value in mind.
A deal that could move quickly — or not at all
Nothing about the VinÃcius situation appears close to resolution, but that could change fast if the player’s camp decides to push for an exit before signing a renewal.
A stalled contract and a release clause reportedly still sitting at a level that has deterred suitors in the past all add layers of complexity to any deal.
For now, City’s position appears to be one of patience: watching, waiting, and continuing to build elsewhere. Whether that translates into a genuine move for one of Real Madrid’s most prized assets will likely depend far more on decisions made in Spain than anything City themselves choose to do.
