Vinicius Junior has reported back to Real Madrid amid growing speculation over a blockbuster summer transfer to Arsenal.
The Brazil superstar was filmed arriving at Madrid’s Ciudad Real Madrid Florentino Perez training ground in Valdebebas on Monday morning and has since been pictured by the club undergoing medical tests and resuming training.
That is after returning Los Blancos boss Jose Mourinho confirmed following Saturday’s 2-2 friendly draw with Fiorentina in Austria that Vinicius Jr would indeed be back for pre-season training on Monday as expected, along with Brahim Diaz and new signing Bernardo Silva.
Vinicius Jr has been on holiday following the World Cup, where Brazil were stunned 2-1 by Erling Haaland’s Norway in the round of 16 on July 5.
7️⃣ @ViniJr 7️⃣ pic.twitter.com/94Q09kWsEY
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) August 3, 2026
Talks are now expected to continue between the 26-year-old’s representatives and Madrid, where he has now entered the final 12 months of his contract.
The lack of progress towards a bumper extension at the Bernabeu has led to interest from Arsenal, who are ready and able to move for Vinicius Jr if the opportunity presents itself.
The Independent reported over the weekend that Arsenal had made a breakthrough towards a move for Vinicius Jr that would surely go down as the most ambitious in their history, having agreed the outline of a personal deal.
ESPN, meanwhile, said that Madrid were open to the possibility of the forward leaving the club if there was no agreement over a new contract amid a refusal to increase their most recent renewal offer as a long-running stand-off continues.
🤩 ¡Aquí están! 🤩
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) August 3, 2026
✅ Reconocimiento médico
🏥 Hospital Blua @Sanitas Valdebebas & Ciudad Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/Jl6CRpPohQ
Madrid have seen their move for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande worth more than £100million stall in the last week, while they remain in pursuit of Manchester City star Rodri after already signing Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate and Carlos Espi so far this summer.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are now believed to have made an official bid for Vinicius Jr’s Brazil team-mate Bruno Guimaraes, who is expected to reiterate his desire to join the Premier League champions this summer.
Like Vinicius Jr, Guimaraes had been due to return from his post-World Cup break on Monday and is set to join up with the Newcastle squad at their pre-season training camp in La Manga, Spain.
Newcastle are said to be looking at Inter Milan midfielder Petar Sucic as a potential replacement for Guimaraes after confirming the £25m signing of Czech Republic goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek from Portuguese club Braga on Monday morning.
Arsenal have signed winger Christos Tzolis and goalkeeper Illan Meslier so far this summer, in addition to converting defender Piero Hincapie’s loan move from Bayer Leverkusen into a permanent deal.
