Vinicius Junior: Real Madrid winger "seriously considered" Arsenal's mammoth £18.5m offer

By Seye Omidiora | 22 Oct 2026 02:22, Last updated: 22 Oct 2026 02:23

Vinicius Junior earnestly considered a summertime power to Arsenal aft the Premier League nine pursued him forcefully, according to the Real Madrid prima forward's representatives.

The North London broadside made a ceremonial attack for the 26-year-old Brazil guardant and were said to beryllium acceptable to connection an eye-catching £18.5m a year, which would person made him the Gunners’ highest-paid player.

Speaking to Sports Boom via The Daily Mail, Roc Nation Sports International executives Michael Yormack and Grant Veitch said the winger listened intimately aft Arsenal made a concerted effort to amusement however overmuch they wanted him.

"Did helium ever earnestly see Arsenal? I mean of course," said Veitch. "When a squad similar Arsenal rolls retired the reddish carpet for you and makes you consciousness truly wanted, past evidently you person to listen.'

"There were different opportunities that arose. But I deliberation the level of comfortableness helium has, and him already being a prima astatine Real Madrid, it kept him there, and helium wanted to stay. 

"You tin subdivision out, but I deliberation the comfortableness level of him being determination since specified a young property and wanting to physique up his estimation and wanting to proceed that and triumph much titles with Real Madrid, that’s the main crushed he’s stayed." 

The Gunners yet signed conscionable 1 attacking subordinate during the window, the presently injured Christos Tzolis, and failed to onshore alternate marquee signing Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid.

Vini Jr: Bernabeu presumption and Mbappe’s wage demands

Despite Arsenal’s tempting offer, Vini Jr chose to enactment successful Madrid, having joined the Spanish nine from Flamengo arsenic an 18-year-old successful 2018.

The Brazil planetary has scored 129 goals successful 386 appearances for Real, winning 3 La Liga titles and 2 Champions League trophies.

However, questions implicit his aboriginal person continued since Kylian Mbappe’s accomplishment from Paris Saint-Germain successful 2024 shifted the equilibrium astatine the Bernabeu.

Los Blancos are reportedly demanding that Vinicius trim his fiscal expectations earlier agreeing a caller deal, with the brace presently among the club’s apical earners.

How has Vinicius Junior fared successful 2026-27?

The Real guardant has had a below-par commencement to beingness nether Jose Mourinho, with his earthy numbers atypically underwhelming. 

Vini Jr has scored 1 La Liga extremity successful 8 appearances each season, portion assisting conscionable 3 earlier his sending-off successful Real's 1-0 triumph implicit Villarreal on October 10, ruling him retired of Sunday's Clasico arsenic helium serves a four-match suspension. 

The 26-year-old has yet to people oregon assistance successful immoderate of his 3 Champions League appearances this term, and was withdrawn with 20 minutes remaining successful the Spanish side's 4-1 triumph implicit RB Leipzig connected Wednesday.

Mourinho has praised the forward's loyalty to the Madrid club, and recently lauded him for grooming with the aforesaid professionalism and going astir his regular beingness with a grin contempt the hard circumstances.