Arsenal hit a snag in signing Vinicius Jr as Real Madrid makes final summer call
Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr is set to stay at the Bernabeu beyond this summer, even though his contract runs out in 11 months, according to reports.
Arsenal, the Premier League champions, have been linked with signing the Brazilian star, but it seems they’ll miss out thanks to Real Madrid’s new manager, Jose Mourinho.
Vinicius Jr will be a free agent in the summer of 2027 unless he and Real Madrid agree on a new deal. The 26-year-old reportedly wants a weekly salary higher than Kylian Mbappe’s, who is the highest-paid player at the club. There’s also some disagreement over his image and commercial rights, which is causing delays in talks.
The World Cup winner has skipped training while the contract talks continue, leaving his short-term future uncertain. But Sky Sports now says Vinicius Jr won’t be leaving this summer and that the decision will be postponed for now.
“The club doesn’t want to sell him and believes he will sign a new deal,” Sky Sports reports. “New manager Jose Mourinho values Vinicius highly and wants him to stay as one of the top stars.”
Although there have been rumors about him leaving, Vinicius Jr is very popular at Real Madrid and plays an important role. It’s likely both sides will find a way to move forward.
Real Madrid would rather not have such an important player in his last contract year, but selling him this summer isn’t part of the new coach’s plan either.
“There’s no clear sign that Vinicius wants to leave, no interviews or hints on social media,” adds Sky Sports. “Both the club and Mourinho want him to stay and finalize new terms. Club president Florentino Perez is personally involved and wants Vinicius to stay long-term. Reports also say both sides prefer him to remain at Madrid and avoid running down his contract.”
Vinicius Jr joined Real Madrid in 2018 from Flamengo. He’s played over 375 games for the club and won three La Liga titles, two Champions League trophies, and two Club World Cups.
With many great years still ahead, it’s no surprise Real Madrid wants to keep him. If they can sort out the money and commercial rights issues, signing a new contract at the Bernabeu should be an easy choice.