Barcelona: Real Madrid's Vinicius had initial deal with club - report
Cadena COPE says the Real Madrid youngster actually had an agreement in place with arch rivals Barça before signing for Los Blancos.
The signing of Vinicius from Flamengo cost Real Madrid 61 million euros rather than the widely circulated figure of 45 million, according to a journalist speaking on Spanish radio station Cadena COPE. Josep María Minguella says that, as part of the deal that took the Brazilian to the Spanish capital this summer, Madrid not only paid the 18-year-old's 45-million release clause, but also eight million in agents' fees and a further eight million to the footballer's family.
Barcelona were close to signing young star, report claims
What's more, Minguella claims that Vinicius actually had an initial deal in place with Barcelona, Madrid's arch rivals, before sealing a transfer to the Bernabéu. The attacker's performances for Brazil in the 2017 South American U-17 Championship are said to have led Barça to reach an agreement for the starlet through André Cury - a consultant for the Catalan club in South America - only for Los Blancos to finally secure his services, announcing his signing in March 2017 (with the player then remaining at Flamengo until after his 18th birthday).
Impressed for Real Madrid in Copa win at Melilla
The report comes in the wake of Vinicius' impressive display for Madrid in Wednesday's Copa del Rey trip to Melilla, where he played a key role as the European champions claimed a 4-0 win in Santiago Solari's first game as caretaker coach. Having enjoyed just 12 minutes of first-team action under the sacked Julen Lopetegui, Vinicius is expected to be given a more prominent role by the Argentine, who in his former position as Real Madrid Castilla boss had overseen the teenager's good performances for the club's 'B' team.
