Vinicius Jr snubs Real Madrid return as Arsenal handed transfer conditions | Football | Sport

Vinicius Junior won’t return to Real Madrid training this week as speculation about his future at the Benabeu continues to mount. Arsenal have been linked with a sensational summer transfer swoop for the Brazil international, who is entering the final year of his contract with Los Blancos.

The 26-year-old, who is in the final year of his contract with Real Madrid, has missed the opening fortnight of work under Madrid’s returning head coach Jose Mourinho, having been granted three weeks’ rest following Brazil’s World Cup campaign. Reports in Spain claim contract negotiations have resumed in an attempt to keep Vinicius at the club, with Arsenal reportedly able to offer a club ‘record-breaking’ contract in an attempt to lure him to the Emirates Stadium.

Vinicius had been expected to return to Real Madrid training for pre-season this week, though reports from the Daily Mail say that won’t be the case. News of Arsenal’s interest broke just days before his scheduled return to their Valdebebas training base, with sources confirming that the interest is very much genuine, with Vinicius firmly at the top of their wishlist.

The winger entered the final year of his existing contract this summer, meaning he could sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January 1st. Nevertheless, the Gunners are prepared to make the finances work this summer should a transfer prove viable. Whether a deal can be struck hinges entirely on whether both parties can agree terms on a contract extension.

Spanish reports have grown increasingly bullish regarding Madrid’s chances of tying down the Brazilian since Arsenal’s interest became public. Diario AS: “All roads lead to the renewal of Vinicius.”

The Madrid-based sports daily acknowledged that “it remains to be seen what attitude and decisions will be made around Vinicius”, while adding that Madrid “want to solve his continuity or departure from the club quickly.”

They also note that “extending his current situation, with the contract in the countdown, is something that clashes with the idea of the leaders.” Nevertheless, both Madrid and Vinicius are understood to share the same objective: securing a new deal.

The two parties are said to have come remarkably close to an agreement last summer, with the narrow gap in negotiations leading many to assume a deal was a foregone conclusion. Vinicius reportedly reduced his wage demands following last summer’s Club World Cup.

Discussions were reputedly at an advanced stage before talks came to an abrupt halt. Ultimately, neither side was prepared to make sufficient concessions to seal an agreement.

Vinicius is said to be seeking an annual pay increase of around £4million, which would bring his net salary to approximately £17million. Under the United Kingdom’s 45% additional tax bracket, he would need to earn around £600,000 per week to take home that figure.

That would be roughly double Bukayo Saka‘s current earnings, including bonuses. However, it is understood that Vinicius’ weekly wage demands are actually closer to £500,000. Arsenal will be hoping that suggestions Vinicius “will make it easy” for Madrid to renew his contract do not prove accurate. Any breakdown in negotiations would only strengthen the Gunners’ resolve to pursue the Brazilian winger.