Contract renewal deadlock + state decline: Real Madrid should sell Vinicius and bet on Yildiz!

When the Ballon d'Or ranking plummeted from 2nd to 16th, when contract renewal negotiations reached a deadlock due to the salary gap, when Mbappe's rise quietly shook his tactical status, Vinicius's future at the Bernabeu has been cast into layers of fog. Just as Real Madrid was struggling with the direction of their forward line, Juventus's 20-year-old Turkish star Yildiz quietly entered the vision of the Bernabeu senior management and became the focus of Real Madrid's inspection list. From the perspective of competitive status, tactical adaptation and long-term development, selling Vinicius and signing Yildiz may be the most rational strategic choice for Real Madrid at the moment.

Vinicius

Since joining Real Madrid in 2018, Vinicius has grown into a key player for the team. His pace, penetrating ability and goal contribution make him one of the most feared wingers in football today. The winning goal in the 2022 Champions League final will forever engraved his name in the legendary history of Real Madrid. However, Vinicius's downward trajectory from the beginning of 2025 can no longer be ignored. As a former popular candidate for the Golden Globe Award, his Golden Globe ranking in 2025 plummeted to 16th place, which was in stark contrast to last year's second place. The decline at the data level is more intuitive: In the 2024-25 season, he only participated in 29 goals in 43 appearances, averaging 0.67 goals per game, the lowest in the past four seasons, and a far cry from last season's efficiency of 0.82. Even more fatal is the hidden concern about the balance in the locker room - during a recent friendly match with the Brazilian national team, he publicly stated that he preferred to play under Ancelotti. This makes current Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso feel. At the same time, his contract renewal negotiations with Real Madrid reached a deadlock due to excessive financial requirements, forcing Real Madrid to consider alternatives. The former hot spot on the left has now become a destabilizing factor for the team.

Yildiz

In contrast, the 20-year-old Yildiz is rising at an alarming rate and perfectly fits Real Madrid's needs for a striker. So far this season, he has contributed 5 goals and 6 assists in 12 games for Juventus. His efficiency on both offense and defense far exceeds that of Vinicius in the same period. Kenan Yıldız, born on May 4, 2005 in Regensburg, Germany, is a Turkish professional football player. He is 185cm tall and weighs about 75kg. He serves as a midfielder and left and right winger, and can also be one of the two forwards. His contract with Juventus expires in June 2029, and the latest German transfer price is 75 million euros. On a technical level, he not only has the same speed and breakthrough ability as Vinicius, but also has an 82% pass success rate and a 30% shot conversion rate. He averages 4.8 dribbles per game, ranking first among European U20 players, showing his comprehensive qualities of "integrating speed, strength and skills". As a left-footed player, he can complete single-point blasts with efficient dribbling on the left, and he can also cut inside to participate in offensive organization, and even play a tandem role in counterattacks. His ability to observe teammates while dribbling at high speed and deliver precise through balls is exactly what Alonso's tactical system requires. He can not only end the offense on his own, but also create opportunities for his teammates, and his tactical value is more comprehensive.

Guler and Yildiz

Yildiz, who is currently only 20 years old, is young and versatile, and has huge room for value-added. Signing him is very much in line with Real Madrid's strategy of introducing top young talents. More importantly, the presence of national team friend Guler can help him quickly integrate into the team and reduce running-in costs, which is particularly important for Real Madrid, which pays attention to immediate combat effectiveness. Vinicius's current status and demands have diverged from Real Madrid's team building ideas. A timely sale can not only recover funds, but also avoid "raising a tiger to create trouble". Next week's Champions League match between Juventus and Real Madrid will be a key test of this striker game. If Yildiz can show his strength to match the stage at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid's determination to pursue may become even stronger. For Real Madrid, which aims to rebuild its glory, letting go of Vinicius, who is in declining form, and signing Yildiz, who has unlimited potential, is not a risk, but an inevitable choice with a focus on the future.

Vinicius and Yildiz

From the perspective of club operations, the cost-effectiveness of this deal is equally outstanding. Vinicius still retains a very high market value, and his latest updated transfer price in Germany is still as high as 150 million euros. But it is undeniable that Vinicius's value is gradually shrinking, because last year when he ranked second in the Ballon d'Or, he was worth 200 million euros, the most in football. So next summer window is definitely the best time to sell Vinicius, otherwise his value may decline further. According to the latest report from the British "Sky Sports", Real Madrid executives are ready to accept an offer of up to 250 million euros. The Brazilian genius may leave the La Liga giants. It is reported that this record-breaking offer comes from Saudi Arabia. Jeddah National, one of the top players in the Saudi league, is actively in contact with Vinicius's agent team with the intention of bringing him to the Middle East for a record-breaking transfer fee. The funds raised from the sale of Vinicius will still have at least 120 million euros left after signing Yildiz. Moreover, Yildiz's salary requirements are much lower than those of the Brazilians, which can effectively optimize the team's salary structure. Real Madrid has always been good at discovering and cultivating young talents. Yildiz's growth trajectory in Bayern's youth training and Juventus' first team proves that he has superstar potential. However, the reality of Vinicius's limited technical and tactical adaptability ceiling and the constant scandals can no longer support the Galacticos' pursuit of "historical stars."

Can Real Madrid win Yildiz?

All in all, Vinicius' decline in form and open conflicts with the team have become obstacles to Real Madrid's reconstruction. The 20-year-old Yildiz has impressive statistics and huge potential, making him an ideal successor to the striker. Selling Vinicius and signing Yildiz is a rational and future-oriented choice, and it is also a key step for Real Madrid to return to the top.