Vinicius Jr. contract talks stall at Real Madrid as Arsenal monitor situation

Vinicius Jr.'s future at Real Madrid has become uncertain after contract extension talks stalled, with the Brazilian insisting on improved financial terms. English club Arsenal is reportedly monitoring the situation in case an opportunity arises to sign him, according to Spanish newspaper AS.

The report states that negotiations have made no progress, as Vinicius has demanded an increase in his annual salary from €15 million to €20 million, along with a signing bonus and a larger share of image rights.

The Brazil international last renewed his contract with Real Madrid in 2022, signing a deal worth €75 million until the summer of 2027, averaging €15 million per year. However, he is now seeking improved terms.

According to the newspaper, Vinicius's demands are linked to his desire for treatment similar to teammate Kylian Mbappé, who is the club's highest earner and reportedly receives nearly 100% of his image rights—terms Real Madrid is not willing to offer the Brazilian.

With the standoff ongoing, AS reports that all options remain open: reaching a new agreement, the player leaving during the current summer transfer window, or staying until his contract expires and leaving on a free transfer. Any new deal, however, would require Vinicius to accept Real Madrid's conditions.

In a related development, the newspaper revealed that a deal to sign promising Ivorian winger Jean Diomande—seen by some as a potential replacement for Vinicius—has stalled despite Real Madrid reaching an agreement with RB Leipzig, due to a dispute among the player's agents that has reached FIFA.

Both Diomande and Vinicius are represented by the same management company, leading some reports to link the transfer saga with the Brazilian star's future at Santiago Bernabéu.