“Saudi Arabia money bag”: Carlo Ancelotti responds to Vinicius Junior link

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has responded to rumors linking Vinicius Junior to a Saudi Arabian club this summer.

Despite playing an important role in Madrid success last season, reports have claimed that Saudi Pro League bosses are willing to pay the Brazilian Vinicius Junior to tempt him away from Real Madrid.

According to ge.globo.com, a proposal from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund for Vinicius to join Al-Ahli has been verbally delivered to the player’s representatives. The offer is said to be worth €1bn over five years – with the proposed annual salary 13 times higher than Vinicius is currently earning at the Bernabeu.

It is also claimed that Vinicius would be given the freedom to decide whether or not he wanted to stay in Saudi Arabia for the full duration of his contract.

However, Ancelotti has insisted it is nothing more than pure speculation.

‘I can guarantee that there’s nothing to it,’ said in a press conference ahead of the UEFA Super Cup final on Wednesday.

‘There’s just speculation, at this time in the [transfer] market, which closes on Aug. 31. There’s just speculation, nothing else.’

‘Of course speculation doesn’t affect [Vinícius],’ Ancelotti said. ‘He’s here, he wants to be here. He wants to do his best and help Real Madrid.’

‘No, absolutely not,’ Ancelotti said. ‘We have our project and we continue in that. We have a squad of great quality… We’ve lost important players and we’ve brought in others who have to adapt. We have to work to maintain the atmosphere, and the commitment, which was the key last year.’

Vinicius joined Madrid from Flamengo in 2018 and has been a Los Blancos player for six seasons. The 24-year-old has scored 83 goals in 264 games for Los Blancos and won 12 trophies, including two UEFA Champions League crowns