Vinícius Júnior is emerging as one of the most high-profile long-term targets for the Saudi Pro League, with league officials tracking developments at Real Madrid and preparing for an opportunity to tempt the Brazilian forward away from Europe. According to TribalFootball, Vinícius is now viewed as a potential centrepiece of Saudi Arabia’s next recruitment wave — even as Manchester United continue to monitor his future at the Bernabéu.
The Saudi Pro League’s ambition to land global stars is well known, and this new phase of their strategy focuses on acquiring elite players at or near their peak. Mohamed Salah is already the subject of a remarkable effort to bring him to the Middle East, with Al Hilal and Al-Qadsiah both heavily involved. Yet alongside Salah, Saudi officials have placed Vinícius at the top of their long-term list as they seek the next global icon after Cristiano Ronaldo.
For Saudi clubs, the attraction is obvious. Vinícius remains one of the most marketable and influential forwards in world football, and sources suggest the league would be prepared to offer a financial package exceeding even the extraordinary figures proposed for Salah. With Vinícius entering what should be his peak years, Saudi executives believe he has the potential to transform their global footprint in a similar way to Ronaldo’s arrival in 2023.
However, Vinícius’ case is more complicated. Real Madrid want him tied to a new long-term contract, yet tensions have emerged this season under new head coach Xabi Alonso. While both sides publicly downplay any issues, the winger has shown signs of frustration over management decisions and substitutions, contributing to a more uncertain mood around his future.
Privately, sources close to the player suggest the dynamics have been less harmonious than portrayed. With Vinícius’ current contract set to run until 2027, the timeline becomes significant: after the 2026 World Cup, he will have just one year left on his deal. That moment — mid-2026 — is being identified across the football world as a potential flashpoint.
It is in that context that Manchester United enter the conversation. The Red Devils have continued to track Vinícius’ situation closely, with long-standing admiration for the Brazilian and a desire to add a transformational wide forward in the next phase of their rebuild. While a move in 2025 looks unlikely, United’s scouting and recruitment teams are paying particular attention to any signs that Madrid may lose leverage as the 2026 horizon approaches.
United remain aware that a deal of this nature would require unprecedented financial and structural planning, and Madrid’s stance is expected to be firm. But Amorim’s squad lacks explosiveness in wide areas, and Vinícius has long been viewed as the type of elite attacker who could redefine United’s front line. If the relationship between the player and Alonso deteriorates further, United would want to be positioned to react.
For now, Real Madrid intend to re-open contract talks soon, hoping to calm tensions and secure their long-term future around Vinícius and Jude Bellingham. The Spanish giants believe the Brazilian still sees his long-term future in Madrid, but the noise surrounding 2026 — and the scale of Saudi Arabia’s financial power — complicates the picture.
Saudi executives, meanwhile, remain patient and strategic. Their belief is that once Vinícius enters the final year of his contract, the scale of their offer could become harder for both Madrid and the player to ignore. And even if a move in 2026 seems premature to some in Brazil, the numbers involved could force the conversation faster than anticipated.
With United observing from Europe, Madrid attempting to stabilise the situation and Saudi Arabia plotting a blockbuster offer, Vinícius’ long-term future is quietly becoming one of football’s most intriguing storylines. The next 18 months will determine whether he signs a new deal in Spain, explores a Premier League step — or becomes the centrepiece of Saudi Arabia’s next major footballing play.