Former Real Madrid defender Rafael Alkorta has advised Vinicius Jr to be very careful with how he handles his contract negotiations with club president Florentino Perez.

He warned that if the Brazilian is not cautious, he could face the same fate as club legend Sergio Ramos, whose contract offer was withdrawn in 2023 despite all he achieved at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Alkorta also noted that Vinicius has not looked like his old self since Carlo Ancelotti moved him from the left wing to a more central role to make space for Kylian Mbappe. According to him, the Brazilian has struggled in this new position and it has reduced his overall impact on the team.

The former defender further explained that trying to put pressure on Perez during contract talks is a dangerous game. He recalled Ramos’ situation as an example of how quickly things can go wrong when a player tries to force the club’s hand.

Alkorta described these disputes as poisonous, stressing that although Perez can be warm and supportive, he does not hesitate to take hard decisions when needed.

He added that since Vinicius left his natural left-wing role to share attacking duties with Mbappe, his performance has clearly dropped.

Vinicius Jr’s current deal with Real Madrid runs until 2027, but discussions for a new contract have been ongoing for months. Alkorta’s warning suggests the forward needs to be wise and avoid making the same mistake as Ramos.