MADRID, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish sporting press has been filled in recent days with stories linking Vinicius Jr. with a possible move to the Saudi Pro League in the summer, with some papers indicating that the Brazilian has even spoken with the Saudis. But would Real Madrid be willing to sell one of their star players? And if they are, why?

Pro-Real Madrid papers Marca and Diario AS have filled pages with speculation over Vinicius' future, reporting that the forward has been offered an incredible 1,000 million euros for a five-year deal and the chance to become an ambassador for the 2034 World Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia. The fact that Marca and AS, both very close to Real Madrid, have also published stories criticizing some of Vinicius' recent form and questioning whether he and Kylian Mbappe are compatible in the same team implies that Real Madrid may indeed be interested in selling one of their star players.

In purely economic terms, there are several reasons why Real Madrid president Florentino Perez would be keen to sell. First, the Saudis are reported to have offered 300 million euros to buy Vinicius - a world-record transfer fee. While this figure may be well below the Brazilian's 1,000-million-euro release clause, it would still represent a huge injection of cash for Real Madrid.

The club failed to sign anyone in the January transfer window, despite clear problems in defense and arguably central midfield, which suggests a lack of liquidity partly due to obligations in paying for the remodeling of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. A windfall of 300 million euros could be put to good use in the summer, with players such as Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi thought to be on the shopping list, along with new full-backs and a central defender.

Meanwhile, Vinicius is approaching the last two years of his contract and will soon need to sign a new deal to avoid the risk of him leaving for free in 2027. His current wages are set to rise next season, and if he does sign a new contract, it would involve a substantial pay increase, making him by far the best-paid player in the squad - ahead of Kylian Mbappe. Perez also knows that if Vinicius receives a massive pay rise, others such as Mbappe and Jude Bellingham may soon demand similar increases, thereby massively boosting a wage bill the club has worked hard to lower in recent years.

There is also the fact that Vinicius is a controversial figure. Although he has been the victim of racist insults, he has also provoked rival players and fans, while being known to complain more than most to referees. Some at Real Madrid are uncomfortable with his on-pitch attitude, which shows little sign of changing.

So, there are plenty of good reasons to think that selling Vinicius must be a massive temptation for Perez and his club. They already have Mbappe - whose preferred position is currently occupied by the Brazilian - and a long shopping list for the summer that his sale could help pay for. The club would also save money on his new contract, and potentially on those of other players, while saying goodbye to a player who can be problematic.

It looks like a win-win situation, and if the press appears to be gently pushing Vinicius toward the door, you can be certain the club is very tempted to take the money and wave him goodbye. Enditem

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