Good news for Arsenal as Vinicius Jr’s transfer looks more likely, while things get messy with his Real Madrid contract talks.
Arsenal are closely watching the situation as Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr haven’t yet agreed on a new contract. Vinicius has just one year left on his current deal, so decisions about his future need to happen during this summer’s transfer window.
Real Madrid reportedly don’t want to make Vinicius their highest-paid player, while the 26-year-old is asking for a salary that matches his importance to the team and the commercial value his agents say he brings beyond football. As talks stall, Real Madrid has agreed personal terms with Ivorian star Yan Diomande, who is set to join from RB Leipzig for over £100 million.
Vinicius is back after leading Brazil at the World Cup, but he isn’t showing up for pre-season training while the club and his agents work on his future. According to the Daily Mail, he’s staying away as they try to restart talks on a contract extension that runs out next season.
Madrid’s position is clear: it’s up to Vinicius to decide. If he agrees to lower his demands and match Kylian Mbappe’s salary, he will stay. But if he doesn’t, the club won’t offer more, opening the door for Arsenal.
As Premier League champions, Arsenal would need to meet most of Vinicius Jr’s demands, and any transfer this summer would come with a big price tag if Real Madrid wants to sell. They could also make a contract offer and risk losing him next summer for free, since a free transfer might even pay off best for Vinicius given his wage expectations.
Wages are just part of the story. Vinicius earns a lot from sponsorships and image rights, which adds complexity to any deal. Currently, he shares about half of his publicity income with Real Madrid. During the World Cup, he had deals with 15 global sponsors, second only to his teammate Neymar.
Vinicius has become a key player at Real Madrid since joining from Flamengo in 2018. Over his eight years, he’s won three La Liga titles and two Champions League and Club World Cups. He’s played 376 games for the club, but it’s still unclear if he’ll play many more.