Vinicius contract impasse leaves Real Madrid ready to consider Arsenal offer

Real Madrid are prepared to contemplate selling Vinicius Junior to Arsenal this summer if the Premier League club convert their initial interest into a substantial bid, according to reports in England.

The Brazilian forward has entered the final year of his current deal at the Bernabeu and talks over an extension have stalled for the past 12 months, the Daily Mail reported on Saturday. The deadlock centres on Vinicius’ demand for a salary close to that of Kylian Mbappe, who is the club’s top earner, as well as a significant loyalty bonus.

Real Madrid are said to be wary of allowing the 24-year-old to run down his contract and risk losing him on a free transfer in the summer of 2027, and are therefore willing to assess serious offers if no breakthrough is reached.

Mbappe salary and tactical tension

The report says Vinicius wants a new contract worth around €30m per year, plus a loyalty payment of €15m. So far, Real Madrid have been unwilling to meet those terms, leaving the situation finely balanced as the transfer window progresses.

Daily Mail also claims that coach Jose Mourinho is not expected to block a potential sale despite rating the player highly. Mourinho is understood to believe that Vinicius’ departure could resolve a tactical dilemma that has challenged both Carlo Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso: how to fit Vinicius and Mbappe into the same forward line.

Both prefer to operate in similar areas of the pitch and offer limited defensive contribution, which has complicated attempts to construct a balanced attacking setup since Mbappe’s arrival.

Strained relationship with Mbappe

According to the same report, tensions between Vinicius and Mbappe have not been confined to on-field issues. Mbappe is said to have privately blamed his team-mate for contributing to the dismissal of Xabi Alonso earlier in the season.

Vinicius’ protests when he was substituted during one match reportedly weakened Alonso’s position at the club. Despite Mbappe later attempting to support the then-coach by playing in the Spanish Super Cup while not fully fit, Alonso was eventually sacked.

The Daily Mail says this episode has lingered in the background and is one of several factors complicating the dynamic within the dressing room.

Mourinho’s history and Benfica flashpoint

The newspaper adds that Mourinho has experience of dealing with similar high-profile situations from his first spell in charge at Real Madrid, when he sanctioned the departures of Raul and Guti in an effort to ease dressing-room tensions.

Mourinho and Vinicius have also clashed directly this season. The report highlights an incident following Real Madrid’s Champions League play-off tie against Benfica, when Vinicius accused Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him.

After that match, Mourinho said he could not be certain which version of events was true and went on to criticise Vinicius’ goal celebration. Those remarks were not well received in the player’s camp, and there has been no attempt at reconciliation since, according to the article.

Two options for Real Madrid

With renewal talks still stalled, Real Madrid now face a clear choice: agree to Vinicius’ financial demands, or entertain bids this summer, with Arsenal cited as the leading potential suitor.

The club are understood to be ready to study any serious offer from the Emirates Stadium in order to avoid a scenario in which one of their most valuable assets could depart for nothing when his contract expires.

For now, the impasse remains unresolved, with Mbappe’s status as the club’s highest earner and leading star looming large over Vinicius’ future in the Spanish capital.