Vinicius Junior set to make major career change after 'unfair treatment'

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 23 May 2023 09:00 CDT
• 3 min read

Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior is ready to make a major change in his career after what he believes is “unfair treatment”.

The 22-year-old is ready to rupture his contract with Nike, the sportswear brand that sponsors him. The deal runs until 2028, but according to O Globo, he is seriously considering rupturing his agreement with them.

Indeed, Spanish outlet AS goes as far to say that the player’s relationship with Nike is now “broken” and there is no possibility of reconciliation following “unfair treatment from the American brand”.

MORE: The price Man Utd would be willing to sell Rashford to Real Madrid

Why has Vini Jr angry with Nike?

Vinicius feels that he has been discredited by the manufacturer, who did not include him in its advert to run during the 2022 World Cup.

Nike, which sponsors the Brazil national team’s kits, instead chose to include Rodrygo and Richarlison, who were both more prominent in their pre-World Cup advertising campaigns, including the one to promote the new shirt for the competition.

In protest, Vinicius has been wearing the old model of Nike Mercurial boots at the World Cup.

MORE: Real Madrid receive Endrick transfer boost

Vinicius Junior competing with Mbappe and Haaland

Despite the snub from Nike, FootballTransfers rates Vinicius Junior as one of the most valuable footballers in the world. The attacker is regarded as a €129 million player, making him the third most valuable in the world behind Kylian Mbappe of PSG and Erling Haaland of Manchester City.

Vini Jr is yet to really replicate his club form at Real Madrid with Brazil on the international scene.

Indeed, the winger has netted only a single goal for the Selecao, where he played the opening two matches at the 2022 World Cup before sitting out the final group stage game against Cameroon after his nation had already booked their place in the knockout stages of the tournament.

By contrast, Vinicius Junior has scored 10 goals and created five more in just 21 fixtures with Real Madrid this season.