Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior has penned a new six-year contract extension with Real Madrid, effectively ending Arsenal's interest in signing him. The deal, which will keep Vinicius at the Bernabeu until 2032, is a significant blow to Arsenal's hopes of landing a top-class left winger this summer. Vinicius, who joined Real Madrid from Flamengo at the age of 18, expressed his delight at committing his future to the Spanish giants, stating 'eight years at the Bernabeu is too short...six more years and forever.' The new contract extension follows a period of speculation surrounding Vinicius's future, with Arsenal monitoring his contract talks.
However, it is understood that a strong relationship between Vinicius and new head coach Jose Mourinho played a significant role in the positive outcome of the negotiations. Real Madrid has hailed Vinicius as one of the most important players in the club's history, and his renewal is seen as a major coup for the team. Meanwhile, Arsenal will have to look elsewhere to strengthen their left-wing position, with the club reportedly close to completing a £75m deal for Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle.