Vinícius upbeat under Mourinho amid Arsenal interest

Vinícius Júnior says his first days working with José Mourinho at Real Madrid have gone smoothly, offering a positive public message as questions continue over his long-term future at the Bernabéu.

The Brazil forward has been linked with Arsenal and is entering the final year of his contract, leaving Madrid with a significant decision to make over one of the most important players in their attack. For now, though, Vinícius has focused on pre-season and on adapting to the club’s new manager.

Positive start under Mourinho

Speaking after his second day of pre-season training, Vinícius said he had enjoyed getting to know Mourinho and the new players while stepping up preparations for the campaign ahead.

He said the new Madrid coach wants him to remain the same player he has always been: happy, expressive and free to play his football. It was an upbeat assessment from a player whose situation has become one of the main talking points around Madrid this summer.

Contract situation remains unresolved

Despite that relaxed tone, Vinícius faces an uncertain backdrop. The 26-year-old has only one year left on his Real Madrid deal, and the source material indicates that negotiations between club and player are continuing while Arsenal monitor the situation.

That makes the coming months important for all parties. Madrid would be wary of allowing such a high-value player to move closer to free agency, particularly given Vinícius’s output and status within the squad.

• Vinícius has one year left on his Real Madrid contract.
• He has been linked with a possible move to Arsenal.
• He has scored 128 goals and supplied 100 assists for Madrid.

A key figure for Real Madrid

Vinícius has been one of the central figures in Madrid’s attack in recent seasons, and his numbers underline why his future is attracting so much attention. His record of 128 goals and 100 assists reflects both consistency and influence at the highest level.

Those contributions help explain why Madrid would be reluctant to lose him, especially without securing a new agreement. Even with transfer speculation building, his comments suggested a player intent on keeping his attention on football matters during pre-season.

Back from World Cup duty with Brazil

Vinícius also arrives into Madrid’s summer programme after a demanding World Cup with Brazil. He was his country’s top scorer at the tournament with four goals, although Brazil were eliminated in the last 16.

His emphasis now is on physical preparation and building fitness for the season ahead. Vinícius said the work in training is designed to reduce injuries over the course of the campaign and ensure the squad can rely on as many players as possible. After an intense session, he added that the group finished tired, a familiar sign of the demands of pre-season under a new manager.

For Madrid, that is the immediate priority. But Vinícius’s contract status and Arsenal’s interest mean the wider story is unlikely to disappear soon, even as Mourinho begins shaping his team.