Vinicius Junior rejects Real Madrid contract offer as Arsenal monitor situation

Real Madrid and Vinicius Junior’s representatives are scheduled to meet on Wednesday for potentially decisive talks over the Brazil forward’s future, amid reports that he has rejected the club’s latest renewal proposal and is considering other offers.

According to the Spanish radio programme El Larguero, Vinicius has turned down an offer worth 22m euros a year that would have kept him at Real Madrid until 2031.

Arsenal are reported to be leading the race to sign him if he decides not to extend his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Vinicius’ current contract with Real Madrid runs until 2027. If he chooses not to agree a new deal, he could leave for free after an additional year, according to the report.

Mijatovic pessimistic over Vinicius future

Former Real Madrid player and sporting director Pedja Mijatovic said he was highly pessimistic about the 25-year-old’s prospects of remaining at the club.

Speaking on El Larguero, Mijatovic said: “We now know what Real Madrid are offering him, and Vinicius has rejected it. At this point in the summer, with one year left on his contract, this whole situation clearly indicates that Vinicius is not planning to renew.”

Mijatovic was quoted by Mundo Deportivo as adding: “He can ask for 30, 35 or 25 million, it does not matter. At this stage, it is no longer important; he is already considering other offers, which is normal given that he is a great player.”

Vinicius joined Real Madrid from Brazilian club Flamengo in 2018 and has established himself as one of the key players at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, the latest discussions have raised doubts about whether he will remain with the Spanish club beyond his current agreement.

Mijatovic also claimed that Arsenal have a strong interest in signing the forward and are prepared to make a substantial financial commitment.

“Arsenal are very interested in signing him. I have reports from England saying that Arsenal are planning to pay a huge amount to bring him in,” he said.

Should Vinicius reject a new contract, Real Madrid would face pressure to decide whether to sell him before his deal expires or risk losing him without a transfer fee.

Mijatovic said: “If he does not want to renew, we will have to obtain a large amount for his transfer. We will see what happens, but by August, things will remain unclear. If we cannot convince him to renew, we will have to think about obtaining a large amount by selling him.”

The meeting between Real Madrid and the player’s agents is therefore expected to provide a clearer indication of Vinicius’ intentions, although Mijatovic suggested the situation could remain unresolved through August.