Vinicius Junior will not be joining Arsenal this summer, having instead opted to extend his stay with Real Madrid after over a year of speculation regarding his future with the club
Vinicius Junior celebrates
Vinicius Junior has pledged his future to Real Madrid(Image: Getty Images)
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Vinicius Junior pledged his allegiance to Real Madrid 'forever' in a cutting 14-word statement after signing a new deal at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday.
Arsenal were handed a final hammer blow in their pursuit of the 26-year-old, with Los Blancos ultimately announcing that Vinicius Junior had signed a six-year contract extension with the club which will cover the majority of his footballing career.
The Gunners had lodged a concrete interest in the Brazilian, who has had an uncertain future in the Spanish capital for the best part of 18 months.
Up until Thursday, Vinicius Junior's contract with Real Madrid was set to expire next summer, with the club working hard behind the scenes over the past couple of weeks to retain one of their key talents for 2026/27 and beyond.
However, it now appears as though the winger's heart was never really in a move to Arsenal, judging by a short message shared online with his followers after agreeing an extension through to 2032.
He wrote: "Eight years at the Bernabeu are so short...six more years and FOREVER, Real Madrid."
It follows a statement from Real Madrid announcing the forward's contract extension on Thursday evening.
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That message read: "Real Madrid CF and Vinicius Jr. have agreed to extend the contract of our player, who is now tied to the club until June 30, 2032.
"Vinicius Jr arrived at Real Madrid in July 2018, at the age of 18. In his eight seasons wearing our shirt, he has played 375 matches, scoring 128 goals and winning 14 titles: 2 Champions Leagues, 3 Club World Cups, 2 UEFA Super Cups, 3 La Liga titles, 1 Copa del Rey, and 3 Spanish Super Cups.
"His contribution to all these titles has been transcendental because of his play, his assists and his goals, including those he scored in the last two Champions League finals that Real Madrid has won: the Fourteenth (Paris, 2022) and the Fifteenth (London, 2024).
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"During his time with Real Madrid, Vinicius won The Best FIFA Men's Player Award 2024, was named Golden Ball of the Intercontinental Cup 2024, Best Player of the Champions League 2023-2024, Golden Ball of the Club World Cup 2022 and Best Young Player of the Champions League 2021-2022.
"In addition, he was included in the FIFA World XI (2024), also twice in the FIFA FIFPro World11 (2023 and 2024) and on three occasions in the Champions League Team of the Season (2021-2022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024).
"Vinicius Jr. has become one of the most important players in one of the most successful periods in our history."