Arsenal had been growing in confidence over their chances of pulling off a blockbuster swoop for Vinicius Junior but the attacker now looks set to stay at Real Madrid
Vinicius Jr.
Vinicius Junior has been heavily linked to Arsenal(Image: Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
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Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid have reached an agreement over a new contract for the attacker, bringing an end to Arsenal's pursuit of the Brazil international.
Speculation over Vinicius' future has been rife in recent months with the player's current contract expiring next summer and numerous reports indicating that he and the club were apart by some distance in negotiations, with Real said to be refusing to improve their most recent offer.
Arsenal's interest in the multi-time Champions League winner emerged amid that uncertainty, with the Premier League champions ready to go all out to clinch a statement signing.
But despite claims that the player was open to the idea of joining Arsenal, Real Madrid confirmed that Vinicius had reached signed a new contract on Thursday - less than 24 hours after a crunch meeting with club officials on Wednesday.
Vinicius' decision to renew his contract with Los Blancos will bitterly disappoint Arsenal and their head coach, Mikel Arteta, who had seen the 26-year-old as the calibre of signing required to take the club to the next level.
Arsenal's search for an elite left forward will now resume again with two key targets, Morgan Rogers and now Vinicius, unattainable in this window.
Arteta has been open about wanting to take Arsenal to another level and "create a dynasty" after ending a 22 year wait for a domestic title. The Gunners also reached the Champions League final last season, losing on penalties.
Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal FC,
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal will have to move on to other targets(Image: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
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“I’m even more excited [about this season], and we’re going to go and attack every possible title because that’s the ambition that we have,” Arteta said following Arsenal's 3-1 defeat to Real Betis in a pre-season friendly.
“We know that we have the ability. We will go from a strength to a strength as well, whether it’s with the players that we have to take them to a different level, and with the market that is still open to recruit as well, so we are very optimistic about it.
“All the work that we’ve done – that I’ve done through the summer – is to understand what we need to do to win again and to create a dynasty in this football club. That’s the aim.”
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