Zinedine Zidane has reportedly reached out directly to Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez in the past hour with an urgent warning: sanctioning a move for Vinícius Jr. to Chelsea would be “the biggest mistake since selling Makelele in 2003.” Sources inside the club say the French icon fears losing the 24-year-old Brazilian would leave Madrid without a genuine match-winner for the next decade.
Zinedine Zidane Lands Major Managerial Role as Return ‘Confirmed’
Zidane, who still commands enormous respect at the Bernabéu, described Vinícius as “the only player in world football right now who can decide Champions League ties on his own,” comparing his explosive impact to his own peak years. He reportedly told Pérez that Chelsea, backed by new ownership ambition, would immediately become the dominant force in Europe with the forward leading their line.
Chelsea are ready to make Vinícius Júnior their record signing, with an offer around €150M, per Fichajes!💙🤑💰 The plan: Vinícius on the left, Estêvão on the right, João Pedro through the middle —
The dramatic intervention has thrown Real Madrid’s January transfer strategy into chaos. Club officials have confirmed no official bid exists yet from Chelsea, but exploratory talks were underway. Following Zidane’s call, all negotiations have been frozen indefinitely while Pérez consults the board and current manager Carlo Ancelotti.
