Vinicius Returns to Real Madrid Training
Real Madrid announced the return of Vinicius Junior to team training following his participation with the Brazilian national team at the 2026 World Cup. He underwent medical examinations and took part in his first training session in preparation for the new season, amid ongoing uncertainty regarding his future and contract renewal negotiations.
The club stated in a press release that the player went to the Pabellón Sanitas Valdebebas hospital on Monday morning for routine medical checks before joining his teammates for the first training session as part of the 2026-2027 season preparation program.
Vinicius’s return comes at a time when his future at the Santiago Bernabéu remains shrouded in uncertainty, with contract renewal talks continuing. His name has recently been linked with a potential move to Arsenal, which continues to monitor the player’s situation closely.
The player is expected to hold a meeting with the club’s management in the coming days to finalize his contract renewal. The administration maintains its stance that the player’s contract will either be renewed or he will be sold during the current summer transfer window.
According to the Spanish newspaper *Sport*, the disagreement between the parties does not concern technical matters but is entirely focused on financial issues. Vinicius believes the offer presented does not reflect his status as one of the club’s key stars and that he deserves treatment similar to that of French forward Kylian Mbappé.
The first point of contention involves the loyalty bonus associated with his current contract. The player insists that renewing his contract should not deprive him of this bonus, while Real Madrid insists on negotiating a new bonus within the renewal contract rather than paying it in the manner demanded by the player.
The most sensitive issue concerns the annual salary. Sources close to the negotiations indicate that the current offer leaves a gap of more than 10 million euros annually between Vinicius and Mbappé, a discrepancy the player rejects, as he believes he deserves the same status within the club’s sporting project.
If negotiations stall, the option of leaving will become a strong possibility, with Arsenal leading the list of clubs interested in signing him. The English club has already initiated contacts with his entourage to explore the feasibility of completing the deal.
According to the newspaper, the London club is preparing to offer the highest salary in Premier League history to persuade Vinicius to move. However, the success of the deal also depends on Real Madrid’s financial demands. The Spanish club is asking for approximately 170 million euros, while Arsenal aims to complete the transfer for less than 150 million euros.
Despite the intensifying negotiations, staying at Real Madrid remains Vinicius’s first choice. However, he is unwilling to renew under the current terms, awaiting a new move from the club’s management to bridge the gap in their positions.
On the other hand, Portuguese manager José Mourinho insists on keeping the player as part of his project for the new season, considering him one of the key figures capable of making a difference, in hopes of successful negotiations and resolving one of the hottest files in the summer transfer market.
