All eyes are on the Spanish capital, Madrid, where Vinícius Júnior is preparing for a crucial meeting with Real Madrid officials in the coming hours to determine his future with the club, following a renewal negotiation that has lasted about a year and a half.
According to the Spanish newspaper AS, the Brazilian star is scheduled to arrive in Madrid this Sunday evening, and will begin training under coach José Mourinho the following day, before holding a meeting with the club's management to inform them of his final stance regarding the renewal of his contract, which expires in 11 months.
Real Madrid's management believes that signing a new contract will be the only guarantee for Vinícius's continuation with the team, while a refusal to renew could open the door for his departure during the current transfer market, to avoid losing him for free at the end of his contract.
The two parties had previously agreed that the meeting would take place after the World Cup and the player's summer vacation, which will occur in the coming days.
No official offers from Arsenal
Despite reports linking the player with a move to Arsenal in the last week, Real Madrid's management asserts that they have not received any official communication from the English club.
Meanwhile, Vinícius’s representatives denied any agreement with the Champions League runners-up.
Real Madrid officials are supported by the messages conveyed by the player during the last session between the two parties, in which he expressed his desire to stay.
However, the club does not intend to improve its financial offer to meet the player's demands, which have approached 30 million euros annually including salary and bonuses, a point that has remained the focus of disagreement since the negotiations began.
Vinícius's entourage had confirmed in February 2025, coinciding with interest from Saudi clubs in signing him, that an agreement on renewal was close, yet the contract has not been signed, and negotiations have continued without resolution until now.
Real Madrid awaits the final decision
Real Madrid's management is waiting for the player to clearly announce his position. If he does not wish to renew, the club wants to know this immediately to begin considering available alternatives in the transfer market.
The upcoming meeting will also attempt to discover whether either party has changed their stance in the past months, especially since the disagreement has remained confined to financial aspects.
Vinícius is aware that Real Madrid has previously ended similar negotiations with several of its historic stars, such as Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Özil, and Ángel Di María, all of whom ultimately left the club.
Despite the fading Saudi interest that was present two years ago, Arsenal's name continues to be mentioned in the media. However, starting the new season with less than a year remaining on the player's contract does not seem like a comfortable option for the royal club.
The upcoming meeting is expected to determine Vinícius's fate, while the newspaper confirms that all possibilities are still open, and no decision has been made yet.