According to Marca on August 12, the Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli is willing to pay Real Madrid hundreds of millions of dollars in transfer fees and nearly a billion dollars in salary for Vinicius over a five-year contract. Neither the reigning Champions League champions nor the Brazilian forward have responded yet.

Last season, Al Ahli finished third in the Saudi Pro League, behind Al Hilal and Al Nassr. To boost their chances of winning the title next season, the club is determined to sign a major star. Initially, they targeted Kevin De Bruyne of Man City, but after the Belgian midfielder declined, they shifted their focus to Vinicius.

Vinicius is a top player for both Brazilian football and Real Madrid. Last season, the 24-year-old forward scored 24 goals, contributing to the club’s triumphs in the Champions League, La Liga, and the Spanish Super Cup. Along with his teammates Jude Bellingham and Manchester City’s midfielder Rodri, Real’s number 7 is one of the leading contenders for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

Besides his role as a top player, according to Marca, Vinicius also acts as an unofficial sporting director. When Real Madrid was still negotiating with Bellingham, the Brazilian forward had been texting the English player for months to persuade him to join. Earlier this month, new teammate Kylian Mbappe also revealed similar messages.

Experts suggest that Vinicius needs to continue playing in a top European league to maintain his high performance, which is essential to help Brazil win the Copa America and the World Cup in the future. Therefore, a transfer to Al Ahli is unlikely.

On August 12, Vinicius shared a photo with Bellingham and Mbappe, signaling that he will remain at Bernabeu and build a new attacking trio.

The summer 2024 transfer window closes on September 1. So far, Real has only signed Mbappe on a free transfer and Endrick based on a pre-existing agreement with Palmeiras. On the other hand, they released Nacho, sold Joselu, and saw Toni Kroos retire.

Saudi Arabia began to dominate the transfer market in early 2023 when Al Nassr signed Cristiano Ronaldo. Supported by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, this club, along with Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli, continued to attract prestigious players like Karim Benzema, Kante, and Neymar.

Al Ahli now has six stars, including Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy, Gabri Veiga, Merih Demiral, and Franck Kessie. Mahrez has won a Champions League, five Premier League titles, and was named African Player of the Year in 2016.