Nobody at Valdebebas wants to lose one of the most decisive players of the past few years, but the picture around the Brazilian has shifted. His contract renewal remains stuck, his financial demands have not moved, and the club is no longer ruling out a sale should a significant offer arrive after the World Cup.
Real Madrid's stance has not changed on paper: Vinicius is expected to sign this summer, or the club will explore a transfer. There is little appetite for entering the final year of his contract without a resolution, given he could soon negotiate freely with rival clubs. No firm offer is currently on the table that would trigger a sale, reports OKDiario.
Beyond the contract stand-off, the arrival of Jose Mourinho has shifted thinking at the club. The Portuguese head coach has made his message plain: there will be no more untouchables, with places earned on form alone, a warning aimed squarely at Vinicius.
That is where one of the club's biggest doubts lies. Real Madrid believe Vinicius will find it far harder to remain undroppable, given the strength of competition up front and Mourinho's evident willingness to leave out any big name if another player is in better form. Not everyone at the club is convinced the Brazilian would handle a diminished role gracefully.
A question of fitting in
Then there is the dressing-room dimension. Nobody disputes his footballing quality, but Vinicius' temperament has caused friction at times, and there is a feeling that reduced game time could make life in the squad harder to manage.
With that in mind, Real Madrid are working through every possible scenario. The priority remains agreeing a renewal after the World Cup. A sale for the right price is the second option. The third, and least favoured, would be to keep Vinicius unsigned beyond this summer and risk his value declining as a free transfer edges closer.
No final call has been made, but a certainty has emerged that would have seemed impossible recently: Real Madrid are preparing for a future in which Vinicius may play no part.