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.

Madrid opened negotiations in January to extend Vinicius Jr’s contract, which was renewed in 2022 until 2027. It was at a meeting at their Valdebebas training complex, attended by senior figures from the club and, on the player’s side, two agents and his father.

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