Vinicius Junior has been linked with a sensational move to Arsenal, with his agent's words shedding light on his future
Vinicius Junior #7 of Real Madrid C.F. speaks to the media in a post match press conference during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group H match between FC Red Bull Salzburg and Real Madrid CF at Lincoln Financial Field on June 26, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Vinicius Junior's agent made a telling statement about his future(Image: Getty )
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Vinicius Junior’s agent once named the Premier League as the only league the Brazilian would realistically leave Real Madrid for. Arsenal have emerged as stunning favourites to land the 26-year-old superstar if he opts for a move away from the Bernabeu this summer.
The Brazilian's contract expires next year and he is no closer to signing a new deal, though talks surrounding the winger’s future are being held this week. Reports emerged last weekend that Vinicius is a target internally at Arsenal, with football.london stating the Gunners are willing to break the bank for the forward if he becomes available. The huge financial cost of the transfer is understood to not be an issue either.
So far, Arsenal’s interest is in its early stages with no contact made yet with Los Blancos. It remains to be seen whether the Premier League champions bid for Vinicius, who is eligible to open pre-contract talks with clubs outside of Spain from January over a free transfer in the summer of 2027.
A move to north London would come as a huge shock given the calibre of the player and just how important Vinicius has been to Real Madrid’s success in recent years, having played a key role in two Champions League triumphs.
It was once inconceivable that he would ever leave the club which announced his signing as a 16-year-old - that much was clear from the words of Vinicius’ long-time agent, Frederico Pena, back in 2023.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Pena said: "Vini is very close with Real Madrid and he’s so happy there. He’s very at ease, he loves the club. He’s been there so long, he’s kind of turned into a man there."
Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid celebrates
Arsenal are favourites to sign Vinicius Junior if he leaves Real Madrid(Image: Photo by Alex Pantling - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
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But while Pena said he did not expect Vinicius to change clubs in the near future and insisted he could stay as a Madrid player for the rest of his career, he did not rule out a transfer to the Premier League.
"I can’t really see that [a Premier League move] happening right now," Pena added. "But who knows, these things change in football and there’s things you would never imagine seeing that happen. I would just say if he were to leave Real Madrid some day, it would make no sense for it to be somewhere other than the Premier League.
"But will he one day leave Real Madrid or will he be a one-club kind of player? I would tell you right now there’s a big chance that he's the kind of player who stays in one club and makes history there and stays there for 15-plus years."
That suggests he would have sufficiently advised the player and made him aware of the benefits of joining the Gunners. Arsenal’s current status as champions makes them hot favourites in England to land the Brazil international.
Vinicius has scored 128 goals and notched 100 assists in 376 appearances for Los Blancos so far. Meanwhile, Arsenal have already made three signings this summer in Piero Hincapie, Illan Meslier and Christos Tzolis.