In a bid to make football history, the Saudi Pro League has reportedly offered Brazil star Vinicius Junior a staggering €1 billion to join Al-Ahli, potentially luring him away from Real Madrid.
According to ge.globo.com, this massive proposal, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has been verbally presented to the 24-year-old forward’s representatives.
Vinicius Junior, who has been a crucial part of Real Madrid since he arrived from Flamengo in 2018, has scored 83 goals in 264 appearances for Los Blancos, helping them secure 12 major trophies, including two UEFA Champions League titles.
The proposed deal would see Vinicius earning an annual salary 13 times higher than his current earnings at Real Madrid, making it one of the most lucrative contracts in football history.
While the offer is tempting, it comes with complexities. Vinicius is under contract with Real Madrid for another three years, meaning Al-Ahli would need to negotiate a transfer fee with the Spanish giants. Reports suggest that Madrid could demand up to €1 billion to release the player, effectively doubling the overall cost of the deal.
This potential transfer would eclipse the current record held by Neymar’s €222 million move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. Interestingly, Neymar has since moved to Al-Hilal, another club under the PIF’s portfolio in Saudi Arabia.
If the deal goes through, it would further solidify the Saudi Pro League’s growing influence in the global football market, following the high-profile signing of Cristiano Ronaldo by Al Nassr, who earns around €200 million per year.
The football world now watches closely as Vinicius Junior considers this unprecedented offer, which could reshape the landscape of global football transfers.
Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.
