Vinicius Junior was seen arriving at Real Madrid's training ground this week for discussions over his future, as the Brazilian forward's current deal edges closer to its expiry next summer, fueling growing intrigue over a potential move to Arsenal.
Footage shared by Le Journal du Real on social media on Wednesday morning showed the winger arriving alongside his representatives for what is being described as a pivotal meeting with the Spanish club's hierarchy. The 24-year-old returned to pre-season training on Monday, but his long-term status at the Santiago Bernabeu remains unresolved.
At the heart of the dispute is a significant gap between what Vinicius currently earns and what he believes he deserves. The forward is presently on wages of around €17.5 million per year but is understood to be pushing for a new deal worth closer to €30 million annually. Real Madrid, according to reports from Spain, have countered with an offer of approximately €22 million per season in an attempt to find middle ground and secure his signature on fresh terms.
However, indications suggest the two parties remain some distance apart. ESPN has reported that Madrid intend to hold firm on their €22 million valuation, with no appetite within the club to sweeten the offer further. That stance was tested overnight on Tuesday when Cadena CER claimed that what had been billed as Madrid's definitive proposal had already been turned down by the player.
The club's determination to keep Vinicius has reportedly extended to direct intervention from head coach Jose Mourinho, who is said to have personally phoned the forward to stress how much he is valued and wanted at the club going forward.
Despite the public show of commitment, Real Madrid's hierarchy is understood to be preparing contingency plans should negotiations collapse entirely. Sources indicate the Spanish giants would rather cash in on their asset than risk him departing for nothing when his contract lapses next year — a scenario they are keen to avoid given the financial cost of losing a player of his caliber on a free transfer.
Should a sale become necessary, Madrid are not expected to let Vinicius go cheaply. Brazilian outlet ESPN Brazil has reported that the La Liga club would demand in the region of €150 million, or roughly £128 million, for the forward's signature — a fee that would carry enormous significance for any prospective suitor.
Arsenal have been strongly linked with a move, and should the Gunners meet that asking price, it would not only shatter their own transfer record but reshape the landscape of Premier League spending entirely. A deal at that valuation would surpass the £105 million Arsenal paid West Ham for Declan Rice in the summer of 2023, making Vinicius comfortably the most expensive signing in the club's history.
It would also eclipse the current Premier League transfer record, currently held by Liverpool's £125 million capture of Alexander Isak from Newcastle last summer, with Vinicius potentially arriving for around £3 million more than that fee.
For now, all eyes remain on Madrid, with further clarity expected to emerge from Wednesday's meeting between the club and the player's camp. Whether the outcome leads to a fresh contract or accelerates a summer exit, the coming days appear set to prove decisive in determining Vinicius Junior's next chapter.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (football).