Vinicius loses his way as Saudi Arabia looms

Vinicius is chasing his own shadow without quite reaching it. His intention remains intact, his effort relentless. He pushes forward tirelessly, yet his football has lost its sharpness. Against Leganés we saw another example: he overflowed with energy but lacked precision. In the half-hour he played, he completed two dribbles out of three attempts, yet none posed a real threat.

On a counterattack, he rushed a pass to Mbappé, making the wrong decision. Another sleepless night for Vinicius, who has faded in February. In his last 14 games he has just two goals—after celebrating 14 in the previous 16. In a turbulent season, his finishing had been his lifeline. But it’s been a while since goals provided him with solace.

The numbers reflect the slowdown. Vini ended January on a high note: a brace against Salzburg, a dazzling display against Celta Vigo, and a total of 17 goals, 9 assists, and 3 penalties won in 27 matches. He was involved in a goal every 75.6 minutes—one way or another.

Though some intangibles suggested he was less decisive than the form that made him The Best, he was on track to surpass himself. A comfortable path to 24 goals in 2023-24, with his sights set on breaking the 30-goal mark for the first time.

Then February arrived, and Vinicius lost his connection with the back of the net. Since then, he has managed just two goals (against Girona and Rayo Vallecano in La Liga), one assist, and no penalties won. From contributing to a goal every 75.6 minutes, he now does so every 369 minutes—an uncharacteristic drought for a player of his talent.

The difference is evident, especially in hostile territory: his chances created per game have dropped from 2.04 to 1.71. His dribbling stats, however, remain largely unchanged—2.56 successful out of 6.56 attempted earlier in the season, compared to 2.64 out of 6.71 now. Even the dip in chances created isn’t alarming: from 2.04 to 1.71. But this is a Vinicius without his usual bite.

New Vini deal “no matter what” becomes “I hope”

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia continues to consider the staggering offer revealed by AS: $210 million per season for five years—a total of over $1 billion. The kingdom aims to lure him with an almost limitless supply of money. Coincidentally or not, since January 27—when AS fuelled the rumour mill—Vinicius, once Madrid’s shining beacon, has seen his light dim. Still, his renewal is not an urgent concern.

Both Vinicius and the club are taking a patient approach. His contract runs until 2027, and Saudi Arabia’s eye-watering proposal lingers in the background. “We’re going to sign Vinicius no matter what,” the Saudi investment fund assured his agents last summer—a sentiment that hasn’t faded.

But Madrid remains calm. Since February, they’ve been aware of the salary Vinicius is seeking, aiming to match Mbappé’s earnings. “I hope to renew as soon as possible,” he said with a smile before the game against Atlético Madrid. As AS has reported, the decision will come in the summer, once the schedule eases. The relationship between both parties remains strong, and the Saudi offer hasn’t caused any tension.

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