Vinícius Jr. on the Saudi Radar: A February Visit Might Be on the Table
30 November 2025
The Saudi Interest and the February Visit
A Roc Nation Sports delegation, led by Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid's forward, is reportedly planning to attend Riyadh in February as part of talks with Saudi clubs.
The move is part of broader efforts to open negotiations with Saudi teams about several players connected to the agency, according to the Saudi press.
The future of Vinícius at Real Madrid has become a matter of debate after Spanish media suggested the Brazil international has resisted renewing his contract and may have a tense relationship with coach Xabi Alonso.
What Could Happen Next
The ongoing speculation has revived discussions about Vinícius's future and whether he might depart Madrid for another destination in the near future.
Tiago Virtas, an official at Roc Nation Sports, told the Saudi press: "I cannot say who will join our roster in the near term, but I will travel to Saudi Arabia in February to learn clubs' needs and negotiate with them."
Names linked to negotiations include Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli, with Vinícius at the forefront of those linked with a potential move to the Saudi league.
Rising Trends in the Saudi League
Cristiano Ronaldo's entry to the Saudi league in January 2023 opened the doors for a wave of global stars moving to the Roshn Saudi League, followed by Neymar, Rubén Neves, Sergei Milinković-Savić, Kalidou Koulibaly and Yassine Bounou among others.
Kareem Benzema later moved to Al-Ittihad after leaving Real Madrid, Riyad Mahrez joined Al-Ahli with Franck Kessié and others, Sadio Mané to Al-Nassr, and more stars like Kanté and Fabinho also featured in the wider exodus.
Vision for the Kingdom
The idea of negotiating with Vinícius aligns with the league's evolving recruitment, including age profiles, as the 25-year-old still has much to offer and has challenged for Ballon d'Or multiple times.
Chabi Alonso on Vinícius
Xabi Alonso recently gave a comprehensive view of Real Madrid's state ahead of a trip to Girona, while downplaying Barcelona president Laporta's remarks and stressing the strong on-field chemistry between Vinícius and Mbappé.
Alonso added that the team is focused on winning games and that injuries and schedule congestion demand a strong squad, emphasizing support for players' adaptation to changes and high expectations of themselves.
He also noted that Mbappé and Vinícius are exceptional in spaces and that their relationship on the pitch remains clear, though Vinícius had a rare moment in not scoring in a game.
Punchline 1: If Vinícius does move, the ball might finally need sunglasses to cope with the Saudi sun—and maybe a passport too.
Punchline 2: And if transfers get sharper than his left foot, Riyadh will need a bigger goal net to catch all those career highs—talk about a desert-season upgrade.
