Vinicius Jr says he wants to stay at Real Madrid “my whole life” but admits talks over a new contract remain on hold.

The Brazil international’s current deal expires in 12 months’ time, leaving Madrid vulnerable to one of their most valuable players walking away on a free transfer in 2027.

And while the winger insists there is mutual trust on finding a resolution, he does not appear in a rush to sign a new deal.

Speaking to Caze TV, he said: “I have never imagined myself outside Real Madrid. I take advantage of every minute I am here because it is the club of my dreams.

“Now I am one of the captains, and that is very important. I want to stay here my whole life. I have to speak with Madrid and Madrid has to speak with me. The club is calm and I am calm. The president trusts me and I trust him. We will wait.”

We failed this season, admits Real Madrid star Vinicius

Vinicius’ words are sure to spark an element of concern at the Santiago Bernabeu, especially at the end of such a disappointing season for the club and ahead of a predicted summer of change. The 25-year-old had a very public falling out with coach Xabi Alonso before he was sacked in January, as Madrid ended without silverware for the second year on the trot.

“It has been a very difficult season,” he said. “We started well, ahead of Barcelona, but then we began to lose and draw matches we should have won. We lost confidence and Barcelona gained momentum. It is the first time I have gone two seasons without winning. We failed. We have a team to win next year. Real Madrid always comes back.”

There have also been endless rumours around a lack of harmony in the dressing room, culminating in the fracas between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni that left the former in hospital.

Vinicius Jr highlighted a lack of experience in the squad as one contributing factor.

“Without Nacho, without [Luka] Modric, with [Dani] Carvajal injured, without [Toni] Kroos, they gave a lot of experience to the team,” he said.

“Now Fede and I have experience on the pitch, but not in the locker room. We do not yet have enough experience to carry that burden. We still have to keep learning.

“This season we learned a lot about the locker room. Next season we will be a better group, more united, better as a team. We are going through a cycle where we have to change our roles to help.

“Sometimes it is good to see what you had and understand how hard it is to win everything we have won. I got used to winning. There is a lot of pressure. That is part of being at the best club in the world. People are waiting for us to fail, and we have failed two years in a row. We cannot fail again.”

Real Madrid stars have a good relationship, insists Vinicius

There had been suggestions Vinicius had an uneasy relationship with Kylian Mbappe and that the club’s two most recognised players did not get on but the South American said that was not the case.

“I have always had a good relationship with Mbappé, also off the field. I used to send him many messages to try to convince him to come to Madrid,” he said.

“We have not yet played at our best together or won titles, but we can change that. He is a great person. He defends me in interviews and on the pitch, like against Benfica [when Vinicius was verbally abused by Gianluca Prestianni]. I would do the same for him. He is a legendary player who will define an era at Real Madrid.”