Mourinho vows to keep Vinícius Júnior as Arsenal eyes Real

One season remains on Vinícius Júnior’s deal with Real Madrid, and today, Vandaag om 20:23, José Mourinho declared he wants the Brazilian forward to stay "gewoon" at the club despite external interest. The coach’s statement comes as Arsenal were explicitly linked to the player on Saturday.

The Braziliaanse attacker was Saturday prominently linked to Arsenal, which appears keen to approach De Koninklijke side in a bid for the winger. Such a move would see the English club targeting a key Real Madrid asset.

Vinicius still has a contract for a single season left in Madrid, and contract negotiations with Real have long been described as uneasy. The lack of progress has kept the future of the Braziliaan uncertain.

Mourinho has told the Real Madrid board that he will fight to retain the player at any cost, manager’s message underscores his determination to keep the squad intact.

"Bronnen geven aan dat Mourinho de clubleiding heeft duidelijk gemaakt dat hij de belangrijkste spelers wil behouden en geen gesprekken over transfers wil," the English quality newspaper reported on Saturday afternoon. The quote reflects Mourinho’s stance on transfer activity.

Mourinho also indicated he wants to hold onto Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé alongside Vinícius as part of his plan to secure the league title. Retaining these stars is central to his championship ambition.

There are lingering concerns about Vinícius’s relationship with Mourinho after an incident with Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during last year’s Champions League tie. The Argentine was accused of racially abusing the Braziliaan, was later acquitted, and Mourinho’s support for Prestianni has raised internal questions.

The forward has reportedly received several substantial offers from Real Madrid, yet an agreement has never been reached. The ongoing stalemate adds another layer of uncertainty to his stay.

Arsenal’s pursuit highlights the competitive market for elite talent, while Real Madrid must navigate contract renewals and internal dynamics to keep its key players. The broader transfer landscape remains volatile as clubs vie for top performers.