Vinicius junior's $1 billion Saudi snub: Why he stays with Real Madrid

The Spanish daily "Relevo" reported that the offer amounted to $200 million in salary per year. Since Vinicius Junior was offered a five-year contract, he could have earned at least a billion dollars in Saudi Arabia. However, the Real Madrid star has a completely different plan for the upcoming seasons in his career.

The Saudis wanted Vinicius Junior to become an ambassador for the World Cup, which Saudi Arabia will host in 2034. However, the player does not currently intend to follow in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, or Neymar, who have joined clubs from the Persian Gulf.

I never thought about leaving Spain. Otherwise, I would be giving the racists what they want. They are a minority in the football world. I will continue to play in the best club in the world, score many goals, and make the fans happy," quotes a recent statement from Vinicius Junior, among others, by the portal sportbible.com.

Media additionally report that the Brazilian representative has a private and ambitious plan to realize at Real Madrid. He wants to win the Ballon d'Or in the Royal Whites' colors.

Such a distinction is easier to achieve as a Real Madrid player than at any club in Saudi Arabia. Real Madrid frequently wins the Champions League and is a strong contender for the Spanish championship year after year. To win the Ballon d'Or, Vinicius Junior also needs success in international football, which all of Brazil is waiting for.

Organizing the World Cup in Saudi Arabia motivates the hosts to entice more world football stars with exorbitant sums. Their expansion in the football market is planned to last for the next decade.