Vinícius and Arsenal: failed move puts Brazilian back in focus | OneFootball

Vinícius Júnior is going through one of the most difficult periods since arriving at Real Madrid, just after a summer in which he came very close to being at the center of one of the biggest moves in the market.

The Brazilian was heavily linked with Arsenal, a club that is said to have made contact with his camp and made significant progress on a possible transfer. However, the deal ultimately did not go through, and Vinícius ended up renewing his contract with Real Madrid until 2032.

Now, his disappointing start to the season has once again put that story at the center of the conversation.

Vinícius came close to swapping Madrid for London

Last summer, Arsenal reportedly took major steps in an attempt to convince the Brazilian forward.

According to reports cited by Cadena SER, there were even people inside the Real Madrid dressing room who came to assume that Vinícius would end up leaving the club to play in the Premier League.

However, the move eventually stalled, and the Brazilian remained at the Santiago Bernabéu with a new contract until 2032.

Did Arsenal’s interest affect his performances?

Vinícius’s difficult spell on the pitch has sparked different interpretations.

One of them suggests that everything he went through during the summer may have had some impact on his concentration. Fichajes.com, citing comments from journalist Antón Meana, claims that the player may not be fully focused after coming close to changing clubs.

“The reality is that the Brazilian player is not mentally focused after coming very close to being involved in one of the biggest moves in the history of the transfer market and swapping Real Madrid for Arsenal,” the report states.

Meana added that the Premier League wanted to make the Brazilian one of the standout faces of the competition and that, although he ultimately did not leave, “mentally, he did” may have been the case.

This is an interpretation of the reasons behind his performances and not an explanation confirmed by the player himself.

A start to the season that raises doubts

Vinícius headed into the international break with negative feelings after a start that is far below the level he has shown at his best for Real Madrid.

His situation has also raised another question: what decision José Mourinho will make when he returns.

Competition in attack is increasing, and Yan Diomande is emerging as an alternative to take his place in the starting eleven if the coach feels it is necessary to change the lineup.

For now, Vinícius remains a Real Madrid player and is under contract until 2032. However, the summer in which he came close to joining Arsenal has once again resurfaced as context for a start to the season in which the Brazilian is still trying to rediscover his best form.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.