Carlo Ancelotti said Vinícius Júnior is focused on “choosing glory” with Real Madrid over pursuing a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
ESPN reported early this month that the Saudis retained an interest in signing the Brazil international, and made contact with his representatives in December, after making an initial approach last summer.
The newspaper Diario AS reported on Monday that the Saudis would be willing to offer Vinicius a five-year contract worth €200 million per season, as well as a €300 million transfer fee, although the player’s contract at Madrid contains a €1 billion release clause.
“I understand everything in football,” Ancelotti when asked if he’d understand Vinícius opting for a move to the Saudi Pro League. “I understood Toni Kroos retiring from football [last summer]. Not many people understood it, but I did. I understand everything.”
Vinicius did not reject the Saudi approach last summer — although there were no formal talks and no concrete offer was made for the player — and postponed any decision on his long-term future until the summer of 2025.
“They’re individual decisions,” Ancelotti said. “But to me, the player [Vinicius] looks happy and excited about staying here and winning trophies with Real Madrid. I think he’s thinking about choosing glory.”
