Champions league winners Real Madrid, have agreed a new four year contract with Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior. This will see his contract at the club valid till 2026.
The 21 year old had a blistering 2021-22 season after winning both the La Liga and Champions league with Real Madrid.
Vinicius Junior scored six goals and four assists in his first eleven games in the 2021-22 season. His partnership with France forward Karim Benzema has been great to watch this season. He is also dubbed as one of the best young players in the world.
The Brazilian winger who enjoyed a breakout season, scoring 22 goals in all competitions. Four out of his 22-goal tally came from Champions league games while he netted 17 times in La Liga and once in Copa Del Rey.
He also scored the only goal in the Champions league final which helped them clinch the title for the 14th time.. This goal made him the fifth youngest goal scorer in the Champions league, at 21 years 10 months and 16 days. His new four year contract can be perceived as a reward for his outstanding performances during the 2021-22 season.
Vinicius Junior was featured in the UEFA Champions League Team of the season 2021-22.
He had 16 assists in 2021-22 taking his total goal contribution for the season to 38.
Vinicius had a goal or an assist against every team Real Madrid played in the knockout stages of this season’s Champions league. He was also named the UEFA Champions League Young player of the season 2021-22. Although, in his first two seasons at the club, the winger was heavily criticized for his lack of goals at the club,
But he has definitely proved his critics wrong this past season.
” Vinicius is a highly talented player,” Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti told SiriusXM. He arrived here at Madrid when he was really, really young and of course it took time for him to reach the top.
Because skill is no longer enough to make it to the top in football.
“You have to improve your tactical knowledge, your physical condition. I think Vinicius has done really well this season because of this reason. Because of his tactical understanding and improved physical condition, he was able to demonstrate his skill.”
Vinicius Junior joined the Spanish giants Real Madrid from Flamengo in 2018 for 45 million euros. He was born on the 12th of July 2000 in Sao Goncali, Brazil. Vinicius began his professional career at Flamengo and made his senior debut in 2017. He made his Real Madrid debut in 2018-19.
Vinicius who featured in Brazil’s last match which was a 1- 0 win against Japan where he played 63 minutes.
The 21year old is currently on holiday in the United States. Their supposed match a few days back against Argentina was cancelled. The 21 year old winger has 14 appearances for the Brazilian national team with one goal.
His only goal coming in a 4-0 victory over Chile on 24th of March 2022.
His current contract runs out in 2024 where he earns 3.5 million euros per year.
Reports state that he is set to earn up to 10 million euros per year in his new four year contract at the club.
The release clause in his contract, is said to have been increased to 1bn euros, in order to fend off potential interests from super rich clubs like Paris Saint German and Newcastle United.
This clubs are funded by money from Qatar and Saudi investors. His four year contract sets him up to earn about the same amount as players like Karim Benzema and Mendy. This is still quite short of the Real Madrid’s best earners like Eden Harzard who earns 26 million euros per year. Vinicius would be looking to build on his excellent performances this past season for Real Madrid. The Spanish giants are beginning to look even more dangerous with the additional signings to the club. Players like Tchoumeni would strengthen the club’s current squad ahead of the coming season.
However, the winger’s contract is said to be announced in July.