Story by Martin Moses
- Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior is expected to stay away from pre-season training as his contract situation rumbles on
- Vinicius’s representatives are locked in contract extension talks with Real Madrid, with Arsenal understood to be monitoring the situation closely
- The Brazilian forward has one year remaining on his contract as Arsenal plots an audacious bid for the 26-year-old
Vinicius Junior will not return to pre-season training this week, with the Brazilian forward staying away from the Spanish capital as contract negotiations between his camp and the club continue to drag on.
The 26-year-old was initially handed an extended break following his participation in the World Cup, but sources close to the situation indicate his return to Madrid is unlikely before the end of the month, well beyond what had originally been anticipated by the club.
Why Vinicius skipped Real Madrid return
At the heart of the standoff is Vinicius’s contract, which is set to expire at the end of the upcoming season.
Real Madrid are not willing to allow one of their most prized assets to walk away on a free transfer, and the possibility of cashing in on him this summer has not been ruled out entirely.
Reports suggest the forward is personally inclined to stay and extend his deal at the Bernabeu, and the gap between what he is demanding and what the club is currently offering is understood to be relatively modest. Whether either party will budge first, however, remains the key question.
Until Vinicius’s future is settled, he is not expected to join his teammates on the training pitch, as the Daily Mail reports.
His representatives at Roc Nation are in talks with Los Blancos, with a major point of contention being the commercial terms of any new deal. Under his existing contract, Vinicius is required to hand over roughly half of his earnings from personal sponsorships, an arrangement his camp is keen to renegotiate.
Arsenal interested in Vinicius Junior
Arsenal are understood to be watching developments closely, positioning themselves as potential beneficiaries should talks with Real Madrid collapse.
The prospect of a player of Vinicius’s calibre becoming available has naturally attracted attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
