Vinicius Jr could have been a PSG star

Before he ebbed as one of the offensive stars of Real Madrid, Vinicius Jr could have known another destiny. According to André Cury, an agent known for his role in several Brazilian star transfers, including Neymar Jr’s, Paris Saint-Germain has repeatedly tried to attract Brazilians in an exchange with Neymar Jr or Kylian Mbappé. However, Real Madrid has always refused to separate from their young nugget.

This season, Vinicius Jr is less sparkling with Real Madrid (20 goals, 14 assists in 46 games), but he remains a fundamental player in his management’s eyes. However, according to André Cury, the story could have been different for the 24-year-old Brazilian winger.

In an interview with AS, Cury revealed that Vinicius Jr had almost left Madrid shortly after his arrival. While Real Madrid sought to recruit Neymar Jr and Mbappé to the PSG in the late 2010s, the Parisian club would have demanded the inclusion of Vinicius Jr. in the transaction. “Yes, they tried to attract Neymar then Mbappé, and Vinicius was part of the discussions as a currency of exchange,” says Cury.

He added that Leonardo, then PSG’s sports director, particularly liked the young winger, “I know that because Leonardo told us about it. He loved Vinícius very much. Every time Madrid returned to the charge for Neymar or Mbappé, Paris demanded Vini in return.”

However, Real Madrid never gave up, preferring to rely on the long term with their Brazilian nugget. Vinicius Jr has since become one of the best players in the world and has played a central role in the European conquests of 2022 and 2024.