Arsenal are facing the risk of breaking their plan to recruit Vinicius Junior from the early stages, as coach Jose Mourinho is said to want to keep the Brazilian star at Real Madrid.
The Gunners" are currently paying special attention to Vinicius, who only has a contract with Real Madrid until next summer. According to British media, Arsenal's board of directors has approved a plan to pursue the Brazilian international at all levels, but the two sides have not yet entered the negotiation process.
On Real Madrid's side, the Royal team is said to be ready to sell Vinicius if they receive the appropriate fee, instead of letting him leave on a free transfer when the contract expires.
However, new coach Jose Mourinho does not want that to happen. The Portuguese strategist has asked to keep all key players in his first season after returning to lead Real Madrid, making Vinicius's future even more unpredictable.
Mourinho returned to the Bernabeu this summer after a period of leading Benfica. He was appointed to replace Alvaro Arbeloa, who had moved to lead Fulham.
The relationship between Mourinho and Vinicius once caused much controversy. After the match between Benfica and Real Madrid in the Champions League, Vinicius accused Gianluca Prestianni of racism. However, Mourinho's statement about the incident has faced much criticism.
When asked if Vinicius would make Benfica fans angry, Mourinho replied: "Yes, I think so. That should have been the most beautiful moment of the match with a great goal. But after scoring, he not only celebrated but also had inappropriate actions. When you score such a goal, you should celebrate with respect".
The Portuguese strategist said he also spoke directly with Vinicius: "I told Vinicius that after a beautiful goal, he just needs to celebrate and then continue playing. When he mentioned the issue of racism, I also said that the greatest player in Benfica history is Eusebio, a black person.
This club has no room for racism. Vinicius and Prestianni told me two different stories, but I don't completely believe in either side. I want to maintain an objective view.
Joining Real Madrid from Flamengo in 2018, Vinicius has played 376 matches, scored 128 goals and contributed to helping the Royal team win three La Liga titles, two Champions Leagues and many other major titles. In the context that Arsenal is still closely monitoring the contract situation of the 26-year-old player, Mourinho's stance may become a major barrier making this deal difficult to come true.
If Mourinho is determined to keep the key players to build the team in the new term, Vinicius is likely to continue to be an important factor in the Portuguese strategist's plan. This means Arsenal may have to wait until the contract of the Brazilian international enters the final stage or switch to other goals.
