Former Real Madrid defender, Rafael Alkorta, has warned Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr to tread carefully in his ongoing contract negotiations with club president, Florentino Perez.

Speaking in an interview (via Madrid Universal), Alkorta reminded the 24-year-old winger of what happened to legendary captain Sergio Ramos, who in 2023 saw his contract offer withdrawn despite his iconic status at the Santiago Bernabéu.

“Trying to squeeze Florentino Perez can go wrong. Let’s remember what happened with Ramos,” Alkorta said, stressing that contract disputes with the Madrid president can turn “poisonous.”

The ex-defender also expressed concern over Vinicius’ form since Carlo Ancelotti moved him from the left wing to a more central role to accommodate Kylian Mbappe.

“Since they took him off the left wing, I haven’t seen him well. Playing with Mbappe has cost him,” he added.

Vinicius, whose current deal runs until 2027, has been in discussions with the club over a possible extension. However, Alkorta insists the young star must handle the talks wisely or risk facing a situation similar to Ramos, who left the club under strained circumstances.