Pep Guardiola is reportedly determined to bring Vinícius Junior to Manchester City in the summer of 2026 as a key upgrade to his attacking line-up.
Pep Guardiola eyes £132m move for troubled Vinicius Junior
The Brazilian forward looks increasingly likely to depart Real Madrid amid contract uncertainty and internal tension.
At 25, Vinicius has enjoyed a solid start to the season in La Liga five goals and four assists from 11 league outings but he has yet to open his account in the Champions League across four appearances so far this campaign.
Off the field the atmosphere has grown tense after an episode last month in which he reacted angrily to being substituted in the marquee clash with Barcelona.
He has since apologised and returned to the line-up, but his contract runs only until June 2027, leaving Real Madrid vulnerable if a renewal stall deepens.
Spanish media and Sports Mole suggest Real Madrid may be willing to part with the winger next summer for a fee of around €150 million (£132 million) as several elite clubs circle.
Among them, Manchester City are now emerging as serious contenders for his signature.
Guardiola reportedly views Vinícius as the perfect foil to complement Erling Haaland, whose 18 goals in 14 matches this term highlight both his dominance and the need for stronger attacking support.
From Madrid’s perspective, former club legend Claude Makélélé recently warned that should another rift occur between Vinícius and the manager Xabi Alonso, the club must side with the coach above the player a signal of how serious the internal situation has become.
For Guardiola and Manchester City, this is a rare opportunity to land a world-class winger who can unlock defences, provide assists and craft chances traits Guardiola values highly in the final third.
If Real Madrid and the player cannot align their futures, Manchester City may pounce with a record-breaking offer and secure a transformative signing.
