Real Madrid are prepared to consider selling Vinicius Junior to Arsenal this summer if the Premier League club follow up their initial interest with a substantial bid, according to reports in England.
The Spanish club have yet to make any progress in contract talks with the Brazil forward over the past 12 months, with negotiations stalled as Vinicius seeks a salary close to that of Kylian Mbappe – currently the highest earner at the Bernabeu – as well as a sizeable loyalty bonus.
Vinicius is entering the final season of his current deal with Real Madrid and, as reported by the Daily Mail, the European champions are wary of allowing him to run down his contract and potentially leave for free in the summer of 2027.
Mourinho unlikely to block exit
The report adds that new head coach Jose Mourinho is not expected to oppose a sale, despite his admiration for Vinicius’ ability.
Mourinho is said to believe that moving the 24-year-old on could resolve a tactical headache that has troubled both Carlo Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso: how to fit Vinicius and Mbappe into the same attack.
Both forwards prefer to operate in similar areas of the pitch and are not known for their defensive contribution, creating a structural dilemma in Real Madrid’s front line that neither of Mourinho’s predecessors fully solved.
Tensions have also existed away from the pitch, with the Daily Mail claiming that Mbappe held Vinicius partly responsible for the dismissal of Alonso. The Frenchman is said to have felt that the Brazilian’s angry reaction to being substituted sparked a controversy that weakened the coach’s position.
Alonso was subsequently sacked, despite Mbappe attempting to support him by featuring in the Spanish Super Cup while not fully fit, according to the same report.
Dressing-room echoes of Mourinho’s first spell
The Daily Mail notes that Mourinho has experience of handling sensitive dressing-room dynamics from his first spell at Real Madrid, when he sanctioned the departures of Raul and Guti in an effort to ease tensions within the squad.
The current situation with Vinicius is viewed in a similar light, with the Portuguese coach again prioritising harmony and tactical clarity over retaining a high-profile name at all costs.
The report also highlights a specific flashpoint between Mourinho and Vinicius earlier this season following Real Madrid’s Champions League play-off tie against Benfica.
After that match, Vinicius accused Gianluca Prestani of racially abusing him. Mourinho responded publicly by saying he could not be certain which version of events was accurate, and he also criticised Vinicius’ goal celebration.
Those comments were not well received in the player’s camp, and there has been no significant attempt at reconciliation since, the report says.
Arsenal interest and Madrid’s financial equation
With contract talks still deadlocked, Real Madrid are understood to be weighing two options: either meet Vinicius’ demands for a new deal worth around €30m per year plus a €15m loyalty bonus, or entertain offers in the current transfer window.
Should Arsenal submit what Madrid consider a suitable proposal, the club would be ready to study it in order to avoid the risk of losing a major asset for nothing once his contract runs down.
Arsenal’s interest is described as serious but, at this stage, initial. Any formal move from the Premier League side would force Real Madrid to decide whether to commit to one of the most lucrative contracts in their history or to cash in on a player who has become central to both their recent success and their evolving dressing-room dynamics.
