Vinicius Jr has given his strongest indication yet that he will be playing for Real Madrid this coming season.
The Brazil international returned to the Spanish capital this week following his extended summer break due to the World Cup amid speculation he could be on the move with Arsenal reported to have opened talks with his representatives over a transfer to North London.
Vinicius Jr has less than 12 months remaining on his Madrid contract but talks over a renewal have stalled with the club not willing to meet his demands.
Reports in Spain have suggested the two parties have returned to the negotiating table and the 26-year-old certainly appeared to be taking the longer term view when he discussed the season ahead with Madrid TV.
Asked about the training sessions under new Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, he said: “It has gone very well, getting to know the new coach and the new players and training very hard. Mourinho wants me to be as I have always been: happy, cheerful and enjoying my football.
“We have to prepare physically so that during the season we have fewer injuries and thus be able to count on everyone.”
Vinicius Jr spent the second half of the summer having chin reconstruction and hanging out with his girlfriend Virginia Fonseca but has been hard at work following his return to Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex.
He added: ”Yesterday double [session], today one session. So let’s go. Today we did a bit in the gym and a bit of work to load the legs. It has been good and we have all left very tired, but now it is time to rest for tomorrow. The pre-season is like this and we have to be prepared.”
What’s happening between Vinicius and Arsenal?
It was reported on Monday that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had taken personal ownership of the club’s pursuit of Vinicius Jr.
Spanish daily AS suggested Arteta has made it clear to the player’s camp that he would be central to Arsenal’s longer-term ambitions as they look to take the next step from Premier League champions to European champions.
Arsenal reached the final of the Champions League last season but their limitations were exposed with a dreadfully negative performance against Paris Saint-Germain that suggested Arteta was not convinced his side was good enough to go toe-to-toe with Luis Enrique’s men.
The signing of Vinicius would alter that dynamic and give greater gravitas to what Arsenal are trying to achieve.
We are ambitious, says Arsenal boss Arteta when asked about Vinicius Jr
Asked specifically about Vinicius Jr following Saturday evening’s 4-1 win in Spain against Girona, Arteta refused to divulge too much but confirmed the Gunners were looking to make significant steps forward this summer.
“We are very active, trying to improve and evolve the team,” the Spaniard said. “That’s clear. We expect to have movements in the next few weeks because we want to get better, like anybody else.
“You can just see the transfer market and our opponents and what they are doing. We are very ambitious with what we want to do.
“The margins are very small and if we want to get better, the level is going to increase. We need to increase the competition internally.
“We need to make sure that we identify the things we don’t have in the team to have bigger margins. That’s the way we have to think.
“We have even more responsibility and ambition than before. We know what is ahead; we know the qualities and capacity we have to compete with any team, but we need to prove that we belong at this level [of champions] now.”
Diomande could, eventually, be Vinicius Jr replacement at Madrid
Losing Vinicius Jr would be a major blow to Madrid, although they appear set to have a ready-made replacement in Yan Diomande.
The transfer of the Ivory Coast international to the Bernabeu is being held up due to an issue with a former agent, according to reports, but the 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger is still expected to be a Madrid player by the time they get their Liga season underway at Espanyol on August 22.
