Jamie Carragher has blasted Arsenal fans for believing Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior would ever swap Real Madrid for the Premier League champions
Vinicius Junior during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 16 match between Brazil and Norway.
Arsenal wanted to sign Vinicius Junior this summer, only for the Brazilian to ink a new six-year deal with Real Madrid(Image: Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has branded Arsenal fans as "deluded" for believing Vinicius Junior could swap Real Madrid for the Premier League champions this summer.
The 2025/26 Premier League season saw Arsenal finally win the title it had craved for years, having finished second for three consecutive seasons behind Manchester City (2022/23 and 2023/24) and Liverpool (2024/25). In a bid to bolster its title defense, Arsenal has strengthened this summer by bringing in Bruno Guimaraes, Christos Tzolis, and Ezri Konsa.
Last month, it was reported that the Gunners wanted to sign Vinicius Jr., in a move that would have served as a statement of intent to the rest of the Premier League. The Brazilian was entering the final year of his deal, with Arsenal keen on bringing the 26-year-old to the Emirates.
However, in the end, Vinicius Jr. opted to remain with Real Madrid, signing a new six-year deal to extend his stay with the club where he has won three La Liga titles, as well as two Champions League titles, one of which came against Liverpool in a game in which the Brazilian scored the only goal.
Despite their status as Premier League champions and Champions League finalists last season, Arsenal were ultimately unable to convince the Brazilian that his future lay in North London.
And according to Carragher, the Gunners never stood a chance of landing Vinicius Jr., in part because of Real Madrid's stature.
Vinicius Junior celebrates
Vinicius Junior has pledged his future to Real Madrid(Image: Getty Images)
"Real Madrid and Barcelona have always been at the top of football’s pyramid," wrote Carragher in a recent Telegraph column.
"The greatest players see the Bernabéu and Nou Camp as their ultimate destination, which is why anyone who believes Vinicius Junior was seriously considering leaving Spain for Arsenal this summer is deluded."
Carragher's words were echoed by Jose Mourinho, who will enter his second term in charge of Real Madrid this season, having previously managed them between 2010 and 2013.
The Portuguese coach recently revealed that he told Vinicius Jr. that he would only realize the magnitude of Real Madrid once he left the club, where he has spent the majority of his professional career since moving there from Flamengo back in 2018.
Speaking on Spanish TV show EL Chiringuito, Mourinho said, "Vinicius has fallen in love with Real Madrid.
Vinicius Junior smiles
Vinicius Junior will remain at Real Madrid(Image: AP)
"The only thing I told him was: 'Vini, where do you want to go? You've only been in Brazil and you only know Real Madrid. You only understand Real Madrid when you leave.
"When you leave that's when you realise what Real Madrid is. Don't leave. It's not worth it."
Mourinho added, "I think what he has felt in terms of the group's growth, the way we've been working and developing, has given him a very important feeling.
"Vinícius is another machine -- it's a pleasure to watch him work. We have a lot of quality."