Real Madrid faces the potential loss of key player Vinicius Jr to a lucrative Saudi Arabian deal worth €1bn over five years, despite manager Carlo Ancelotti’s desire to retain him. While Kylian Mbappe opted for Madrid over the Saudi Pro League, other clubs in the Middle East aggressively pursue top talent. Additionally, Luka Modric is yet to sign a contract extension and has drawn interest from Qatar, despite wanting to end his career at Madrid. The club has made no recent efforts to secure an extension for the 39-year-old, who continues to play a vital role this season.
Real Madrid faces the possibility of losing a significant player to the Middle East during the summer transfer window, despite Carlo Ancelotti’s desire to retain them.
Kylian Mbappe may have turned down a highly lucrative offer to join the Saudi Pro League in favor of a deal with Real Madrid, but that hasn’t stopped clubs from the Middle East from trying to lure top talent from around the globe with substantial offers and enticing incentives.
Vinicius Jr is another player from Real Madrid who has been linked to a transfer to Saudi Arabia, with reports indicating that the Brazilian has already “agreed” to a contract that would see him earn €1bn over the next five years.
Real Madrid risks losing a star that Carlo Ancelotti has depended on
Whether these reports are accurate remains to be seen, but it’s clear that other stars from Los Blancos are attracting interest in the Middle East.
This situation could pose challenges for Carlo Ancelotti, who was ranked second in FourFourTwo‘s list of the best managers globally, as one of his most utilized players this season is rumored to be departing.
According to Marca, Luka Modric has not yet signed a contract extension with Real Madrid and could potentially be available for a free transfer this summer. While Saudi Pro League representatives reached out to him last year regarding a move, it seems that Qatar is now the most interested party in acquiring his services.
The report indicates that Real Madrid has not made any efforts to negotiate a new contract with Modric, despite the 39-year-old’s wish to retire at the club. He feels capable of competing at a high level for several more years, which might necessitate a move to the Middle East to prolong his career.
Carlo Ancelotti would certainly prefer not to lose the midfielder, as he has leaned on him throughout the season despite his age. Modric has made 47 appearances this term, contributing crucial goals and assists.
If an agreement with Modric cannot be reached, Ancelotti may need to consider alternatives, particularly with a lucrative offer from Qatar on the table and Modric’s aspirations to participate in the 2026 World Cup with Croatia.
It’s important to note that a similar situation occurred last year when Modric only renewed his contract for another season with Real Madrid on July 17, over two weeks past the expiration of his previous agreement.
According to FourFourTwo, there doesn’t appear to be any urgency from either side to finalize a deal. Many factors may influence the outcome, including how Modric concludes the season in Spain and how confident Real Madrid feels about finding a replacement. If they believe they can find one, a separation is certainly plausible.