Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti has expressed confidence that Vinícius Júnior will prioritize "choosing glory" with the Spanish giants over a potential lucrative move to Saudi Arabia, as speculation mounts ahead of their crucial Champions League clash with Brest.
Recent reports by ESPN revealed ongoing Saudi interest in the Brazilian star, with initial contact made with his representatives in December following an earlier approach last summer. According to Diario AS, Saudi clubs are preparing an astronomical offer including a five-year contract worth €200 million per season and a €300 million transfer fee, though Vinícius's current contract includes a €1 billion release clause.
When questioned about the possibility of Vinícius considering a move to the Saudi Pro League, Ancelotti maintained a philosophical stance. "I understand everything in football," the Italian manager stated during Tuesday's pre-match news conference. "I understood Toni Kroos retiring from football [last summer]. Not many people understood it, but I did. I understand everything."
While Vinícius did not explicitly reject Saudi overtures last summer, with no formal talks or concrete offers materializing, any decision about his long-term future has been postponed until summer 2025. Ancelotti emphasized the player's current mindset, noting, "They're individual decisions, but to me, the player looks happy and excited about staying here and winning trophies with Real Madrid. I think he's thinking about choosing glory."
Meanwhile, Madrid's focus remains on their Champions League campaign, where they currently sit in 16th place with 12 points, level with several other prominent clubs including Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. The team maintains hopes of securing a top-eight finish, with a playoff spot already guaranteed.
The squad's goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, highlighted the team's impressive offensive capabilities, particularly praising Kylian Mbappé's recent form of eight goals in five appearances. "Kylian is one of the best in the world, and we're lucky to have a lot of them in our team," Courtois remarked, also acknowledging the contributions of teammates Jude Bellingham, Vinícius, and Rodrygo. "We've faced Kylian often, and he's a great forward. It's better to have them with us than against us."
