Vinicius Junior told to ‘come back’ as transfer promise revealed amid Real Madrid uncertainty

Robin Bairner

25 Feb 2026 12:34 GMT
4 min read

Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Vinicius Junior has not signed a new contract with Real Madrid, and until that situation is resolved, there will be speculation over his future.

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The Saudi Pro League, which is planning a blockbuster summer, is said to be plotting a big-money move for the Brazil international, whose contract at the Bernabeu runs until 2027.

Now international team-mate Lucas Paqueta has waded into the debate, revealing that he has talked to the Real Madrid star about his plans.

Current ETV

Vinicius Junior

F (CL), M (L)

Real Madrid

Vinicius Junior

F (CL), M (L)

Real Madrid

ETV Range

€89.2M - €109M

Vini Jr has promised to move to Flamengo

Paqueta made a shock move from West Ham United to Flamengo in January and claims that Vini Jr will follow him back to Brazil at some point.

“Vinicius Junior? We talk a lot. I told him: 'I’m here, now it's only left with you. Come, because we have to fulfil what we promised.' At the right moment, he will also come back to Flamengo,” he told ESPN.

‘It depends on Vini’

This is not the first strong signal sent by Flamengo that Vini Jr, who came through the youth ranks at the club, will head home.

In early February, president Jose Boto suggested that a deal could be struck in 18 months that would see the 25-year-old make a sensational return to his homeland.

“His contract is close to ending, we won’t have to pay anything to Real Madrid,” he said. “He sent me a signed shirt, a lovely gift.

“It depends more on Vini than on us.”

© IMAGO - Vinicius Junior returns to Flamengo in 2023

Flamengo flex their muscles

Flamengo have already shown their draw by luring Paqueta back to Brazil’s Serie A.

While Boto claims that his side beat competition from “between 10 and 15 European sides” to sign him, Paqueta was also drawn back by the club’s financial strength and their ability to challenge for titles on all fronts.

Vini Jr, meanwhile, has been given additional reason to return to Brazil in recent days following another racism scandal that erupted in the Champions League as members of the Benfica crowd abused him after he scored Real Madrid’s only goal in the playoff first leg in Lisbon.

His relationship with the Real Madrid board, meanwhile, has been strained as he is seeking wage parity with Kylian Mbappe – something that Flamengo also could not offer him.

His career, though, is hitting a crossroads with three apparent options: stick it out at Real Madrid, move for big money to the Saudi Pro League or return to the comforts of home at Flamengo.

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