Arsenal have been linked with a move for Real Madrid and Brazil star Vinicius Junior but there have been conflicting reports about his future
11:09, 29 Jul 2026
Arsenal are willing to go all-out in their pursuit of Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior. And media in Spain believe that, despite reports suggesting he'll stay put, the Brazil star could soon leave the Bernabeu.
Last week, the Premier League was rocked by news that the reigning champion Gunners were exploring a stunning move for Vinicius. football.london understands that this interest is concrete and Mikel Arteta's side would be willing to blow their wage structure apart and break the bank for the 26-year-old should he become available.
But further speculation has emerged suggesting that new Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is keen to keep Vinicius and fresh terms will soon be discussed. Nevertheless, Spanish media point to holes in this argument and claim that an exit could still be on the cards, thanks to Vinicius's wage demands and the impending arrival of Yan Diomande.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
Outlets such as Sky Sports News report Vinicius will remain at Real Madrid and they have absolutely no intention of parting with him. But one Spanish publication suggests otherwise.
AS deputy director Tomas Roncero said: "The club says there probably won't be a problem, because he intends to renew. If you talk to Vini's people, they tell you that his only wish is to stay at Madrid and leaving isn't even on his mind. But curiously, there hasn't been a single meeting for eight or nine months.
"The last time, there was a huge financial disagreement, because his demand was to earn the same as Kylian Mbappe. Madrid made it clear to him that he's not going to earn the same as Mbappe. There will be no agreement on those initial terms. I'd like to think that Vinicius will lower his financial demands, which would also be reasonable.
"You have to understand the pecking order within a club and it's clear that Real Madrid's star player is Mbappe. He's the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history, World Cup Golden Boot winner, Champions League Golden Boot winner and La Liga top scorer. Vini hasn't been quite as outstanding. He has to understand that he can't earn the same amount."
Discussing the possibility of Vinicius departing on a free transfer, he continued: "Real Madrid want to avoid that scenario. The Yan Diomande deal is a clear message that Vinicius might not stay. Otherwise, there wouldn't be such urgency to spend 120 million euros on a 19-year-old player. Such a big gamble only makes sense if you're also covering your back."
His AS colleague and chief editor, Aritz Gabilondo, added: "If both sides want to renew, the deal is signed and that's it. Someone here is playing a different game. It's a strategy that Real Madrid – and specifically its president – has historically taken a dim view of. Taking a gamble on Florentino Perez in this instance is very tricky."
Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Santi Canizares, speaking on COPE's Tiempo de Juego programme, also addressed the ongoing speculation and believes his old club would prefer to cash in on their star asset rather than risk losing him on a free transfer next summer.
"The more noise there is about a player, the less chance he has of leaving," he stated. "[But] Real Madrid are late with everything. If it's true that he doesn't have a signed agreement, Real Madrid have an obligation to sell him. You can't lose 100 or 100-plus million euros by letting a player's contract expire. I just don't believe it's going to happen. It's an unforgivable mismanagement."
Article continues below
Countdown to Kickoff: The Ultimate 26/27 Sky Sports Bundle
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image
Sky's Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season with more than 1,400 live games across the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts.
Every subscription now comes with 135 channels alongside free subscriptions to HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu.