Arsenal intensify chase as Vinicius Jnr erases Instagram

Arsenal have sharpened their pursuit of Brazilian winger Vinicius Jnr after the 26‑year‑old Brazil international erased his entire Instagram profile on Wednesday night, a move that coincided with Real Madrid’s £19 million‑a‑year contract renewal offer to keep the player at the Spanish giants.

Vinicius' Instagram page, followed by 64.1 million users, now shows no images, bio or profile picture, yet the follower count has risen by 200,000 since the purge, leaving the account completely blank.

Real Madrid have proposed a £19 million‑per‑year renewal, with the current contract set to expire at the end of next season, and the club is eager to avoid losing the Brazilian winger on a free transfer.

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Arsenal have made their interest public, with manager Mikel Arteta describing the Gunners as very ambitious in the summer window and stating they are prepared to act quickly if Vinicius fails to reach an agreement with the Spanish giants.

Negotiations in Madrid on Wednesday involved Vinicius' agents, Real Madrid general director Jose Angel Sanchez and chief scout Juni Calafat, while head coach Jose Mourinho affirmed that the winger remains firmly in his plans.

Despite the Instagram drama, Real Madrid are increasingly confident they can retain the Brazilian, citing an improved re‑signing fee offer that they say strengthens their position to keep Vinicius for the upcoming season.

For Arsenal, securing Vinicius would add a world‑class attacking option to a title‑defending squad, while for Real Madrid confirming the £19 million renewal would secure a key player and prevent a free departure.