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Real Madrid## Arsenal are exploring a bold move for Vinicius Junior after the Brazil international entered the final 12 months of his Real Madrid contract earlier this summer
18:01, 25 Jul 2026Updated 18:06, 25 Jul 2026
Reported tension between Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid could aid Arsenal in their pursuit of the Brazil international.
Vinicius, 26, is understood to be a player the Gunners are exploring potentially making a move for. They have yet to open talks with the Spanish side, but the idea of signing him is understood to have the club hierarchy's approval.
The Brazil international is in the final 12 months of his contract, and talks between the two parties have yet to reach any agreement on a renewal. Madrid are keen not to lose Vinicius for nothing next summer.
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Arsenal's interest emerges two months after reports in Spain about tension between the Brazilian and Mbappe. Claims were made on El Chiringuito by the talk show's presenter, Josep Pedrerol.
He said that the Frenchman's camp believes Vinicius has tried to portray his team-mate as the "villain". The former Flamengo player is alleged to have done so by leaking negative stories to the media.
Mbappe also apparently suspects that the winger played a significant role in Xabi Alonso's sacking earlier this year. The striker, contrarily, is said to have become one of their head coach's strongest supporters before his January departure.
As right-footed forwards, both players naturally prefer to occupy the same spaces on the pitch. Mbappe started just one match on the left last season, which was when Alonso benched Vinicius for the Copa del Rey third round tie against Talavera.
With the Brazilian watching on, Mbappe scored twice and assisted another in their 3-2 away win. However, within a month, Castilla coach Alvaro Arbeloa was promoted to take over the team.
From February onwards, they almost exclusively played as a strike partnership up front in a 4-4-2. However, only one of them was able to drift wide to the left.
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Across the season, they set up 19 goals for one another. Vinicius assisted 15 of those for Mbappe, but the former Paris Saint-Germain player returned the favour just four times.
Madrid ultimately ended the campaign trophyless for the first time in five years. That is why a scapegoat was sought for their lack of success, with Vinicius allegedly attempting to portray Mbappe as the problem.
With the World Cup Golden Boot winner seemingly going nowhere, Arsenal could benefit from their apparent tension. They are interested if Madrid decide to cash in on the Brazilian forward before his contract expires.
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