Vinicius Junior reportedly demanded a salary package comparable to the club-record wage Real Madrid handed out to Cristiano Ronaldo at his peak during increasingly tense negotiations over a new contract.

A year ago, Vinicius Junior looked to be at the very peak of his powers. Over the previous 2023-24 season he had won the Champions League and La Liga with Real Madrid, contributing decisively on all fronts with 35 goal contributions in 39 matches.

Xabi Alonso’s appointment as Real Madrid manager has sparked real hope among fans and it is easy to see why. His success with Bayer Leverkusen, where he broke Bayern Munich’s long Bundesliga