How Arsenal did 'absolutely everything' to sign Vinicius Junior before Real Madrid contract breakthrough

By Ben Knapton | 06 Aug 2026 14:07

Arsenal reportedly offered to marque Vinicius Junior the "face of the Premier League" and offered the Real Madrid antheral 1 of the biggest fiscal packages seen successful the past of the competition, but their efforts failed to carnivore fruit.

The Gunners held a genuine involvement successful securing a blockbuster woody for the Brazil planetary during the summertime transportation window, 1 which would person astir surely made Vinicius the most costly Premier League subordinate ever.

The 26-year-old entered the past 12 months of his Madrid declaration astatine the extremity of June, and talks with Los Blancos implicit an hold initially did not pb to a breakthrough, seemingly owed to discrepancies implicit his wage packet.

All the while, Arsenal pulled retired each the stops to charm Vinicius, but the South American is present believed to beryllium closing successful connected a caller Real Madrid contract after affirmative talks connected Wednesday.

Arsenal volition truthful beryllium forced to look elsewhere for alternate left-wing targets, but their nonaccomplishment to bring Vinicius to North London was not for a deficiency of trying, according to HandofArsenal.

Arsenal were 'supremely confident' of signing Vinicius Junior

The Gunners insider reports that Arsenal's conversations with Vinicius's campy firstly included the committedness of 'skyrocketing' his brand, connected some an economical and planetary scale.

Furthermore, Vinicius would person been fixed a "true chance" astatine winning the Ballon d'Or successful the English capital, arsenic Andrea Berta and Mikel Arteta did "absolutely everything" to prise him distant from Madrid.

The "rollercoaster" transportation saga volition yet extremity with Vinicius staying put, adjacent though Arsenal were "supremely confident" of adding the 26-year-old to their ranks arsenic precocious arsenic Wednesday.

The winger volition alternatively proceed his escapade successful the Spanish capital, wherever helium has travel up with 228 extremity involvements successful 375 matches for Real Madrid successful each tournaments, 128 of his ain and 100 assists.

What Vinicius Junior alternatives tin Arsenal sign?

The information that Arsenal were adjacent successful the speech to motion Vinicius from Real Madrid speaks volumes astir the club's progression during the Arteta era, but a seismic transportation ever seemed far-fetched.

Fans of a sceptical persuasion volition besides wonderment whether Vinicius's campy were simply utilizing Arsenal to get the champion woody imaginable from Real Madrid, though his tendency to enactment astatine the Bernabeu was known agelong earlier the Gunners' involvement was wide reported.

Now, sporting manager Berta volition beryllium spearheading a hunt for alternate targets, specified arsenic Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola, though Liverpool are inactive seen arsenic the favourites for the Frenchman.

The Gunners could besides reignite their involvement successful Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams, who would correspond a cheaper alternate astatine £77m, arsenic per a merchandise clause successful his bonzer 10-year San Mames contract.

RB Leipzig's Antonio Nusa is believed to beryllium connected Arsenal's radar too, but the Premier League champions whitethorn besides look contention from Tottenham Hotspur for the Norwegian if Spurs' determination for Manchester City's Savinho falls through.