Does Vinicius Jr’s Ballon d’Or Snub Increase the Chances of a Saudi Pro League Move? His Suitors Would Like to Think So
On Monday, the annual Ballon d’Or awards took place in Paris, and Manchester City’s Rodri picked up the coveted award. There was huge speculation that Vinicius Jr. would win it after his La Liga and UEFA Champions League triumphs last season, but it was not to be, and he finished second in the rankings. Now, questions are arising on whether the Brazilian forward will consider a future outside of Europe.
One of the reasons Vinicius Jr turned down an offer from a Saudi Pro League side last summer was that he would be out of contention for top honors such as the Ballon d’Or if he played outside Europe. The expectation was that he would win it this season, having had an excellent 2023-24 season at club level. With the rumors flying around that he would not win it, the Brazilian forward and his club opted to skip the award ceremony, a sign that he was not happy with the loss.
There are reports that his entourage is now assessing options for his future as they feel staying in Spain might not be worth the trouble. With Vinicius Jr having to face hostility, mostly on racial grounds, he’s struggled with it to the point of being an advocate of kicking racism out of football.
However, nothing much has changed, and the Ballon d’Or snub might pave the way for the Real Madrid forward to consider an offer to join the Saudi Pro League. The move would still be complicated, as his contract contains a €1 billion release clause. Additionally, there are teams in other leagues, such as the English Premier League, that would be interested in his services were he to declare an interest in moving from Real Madrid.
At the moment, however, there are no signs that the needle has moved on Vinicius Jr’s long-term future at Real Madrid. He is a critical member of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, has deep bonds with his teammates, and his family is settled in the Spanish capital. Whether that changes to favor a Saudi Pro League move remains to be seen.
