Vinicius Junior returns to Real Madrid training: Next steps in contract talks amid Arsenal interest

Vinicius Junior returns to Real Madrid training: Next steps in contract talks amid Arsenal interest originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Real Madrid have had a busy transfer window, as they shuffle the deck under new manager Jose Mourinho ahead of the Special One’s first season in charge.

Yet one of their biggest stories of the summer centers around a player who is already at the club.

Vinicius Junior is one of the most globally known superstars in European football, having been at Real Madrid since joining in 2018 from Flamengo as a teenager. He has blossomed into one of the game’s standout players and is now looking to be paid as such.

The Brazilian’s current contract expires next summer, leaving Real Madrid with a decision to make now. Should Los Blancos capitulate to Vinicius’s wage demands and keep him tied to the Spanish capital for years, ride it out until next summer and let him walk on a free transfer, or look to sell him now to get a big transfer fee?

The Sporting News discusses the current situation regarding Vinicius Jr’s status at Real Madrid as he rejoins the club ahead of the coming season, and what could be necessary to see him leave the Santiago Bernabeu, possibly to join London giants Arsenal in the Premier League.

MORE:The roadblocks for Arsenal to clear to make sensational Vinicius deal happen

Vinicius returns to Real Madrid training

Following his time at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and an extended absence from the team as his contract situation is worked out, Vinicius returned to Real Madrid training on Monday, August 3.

The Real Madrid star was spotted at the club’s Valdebebas training facility following his routine pre-season medical checks, which were completed without issue, multiple reports indicated.

New signing Bernardo Silva was also pictured attending Madrid training for the first time since his move on a free transfer following the expiration of his Manchester City contract.

😉 Train with @ViniJr! pic.twitter.com/XI2VpQZk9r

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) August 3, 2026

Latest on Vinicius contract talks

Over the weekend, reports surfaced that while Vinicius Jr. remains in negotiations with Real Madrid to renew his contract, talks have stalled.

According to ESPN, Madrid are unwilling to increase their offer to Vinicius and are now sitting back to wait to find out whether the 26-year-old will accept their offer.

Vinicius currently makes “considerably more” than the $604,000 per week that has been repeatedly reported, according to the BBC. Reports claim he is asking for a significant step up from that number, knowing that he has leverage because a free transfer next summer could potentially see him cash in even bigger, with the club getting nothing.

At this point, it appears to be up to the player.

Could Vinicius still go to Arsenal?

Vinicius has been linked heavily with a move to Arsenal, as the defending Premier League champions look to chase one of the game’s biggest stars. Multiple reports have claimed that the London club has done the necessary ground work to explore a potential deal and position themselves as a leader for his signature.

However, this could only happen if Vinicius decides to look for a new home away from the Bernabeu. While there is still a likelihood that Vinicius could go to Arsenal, although a lot still has to happen to get to that point.

At this point, the only way Arsenal could make a play for Vinicius is if contract negotiations break down to the point where Madrid decide their best course of action is to sell the Brazilian now in the hopes of avoiding losing him for free next summer.

The transfer would likely come with an enormous price tag, as reports claim it could cost as much as £130 million ($174 million) as a transfer fee, plus whatever it would take to meet Vinicius’ enormous wage demands. As it stands, Bukayo Saka is Arsenal’s top earner at a reported £400,000 ($537,000) per week, which is already well below what the Brazilian makes as it stands.

Will Vinicius play in next Real Madrid game?

Having only just returned to training on Monday, it remains to be seen whether Vinicius will be fit to participate in Saturday’s friendly against Hungarian club Ferencvaros in Budapest.

They then play two further friendlies — against Deportivo La Coruna on August 12, and Schalke four days later — before their season begins.

Madrid could decide that between his potential lack of fitness and the ongoing contract negotiations that it’s worth holding Vinicius back until he is fully committed to the Blancos cause.

Mourinho’s team begin their La Liga campaign against Espanyol on August 22 on the road, with their home opener at the Bernabeu on August 26 against Real Sociedad.