Vinicius Jr Was 'Genuinely Attracted' to Arsenal Before Real Madrid Renewal
Arsenal came close to landing Vinicius Junior before the Brazil forward committed his long-term future to Real Madrid, signing a contract extension until 2032 on Thursday.
According to The Athletic, Vinicius was genuinely attracted to a proposal from Arsenal that would have made him the focal point of Mikel Arteta's attack. With his Real Madrid contract talks stalled for around 18 months, the Gunners positioned themselves as a serious alternative, holding high level talks with the player's camp and preparing to break their salary structure to get the deal done.
Relations between Vinicius and the Real Madrid hierarchy had deteriorated under previous manager Xabi Alonso, with the forward reportedly telling club president Florentino Perez he did not see a future at the club while Alonso remained in charge. The appointment of Jose Mourinho this summer changed the picture. Despite early friction over a comment Mourinho made following a Benfica match, the two found common ground, and Mourinho pushed for the player to stay.
A "crunch meeting" involving Vinicius's agents and club officials at a restaurant in Madrid preceded the final agreement, which includes a renewal bonus the club had not previously offered a player. Arsenal were informed of his decision last Wednesday, with the player's representatives said to have thanked the club for how they were treated during the process.
Vinicius posted on social media following the announcement, writing that eight years at the Bernabeu felt too short and that six more, "and forever," awaited.
