Vinicius Jr Stays at Real Madrid: Arsenal's Missed Opportunity

Vinicius Jr staying at Real Madrid was never the fairytale Arsenal move some fans tried to dream into reality. Not according to Gareth Barry.

As the Brazilian star edged into the final year of his previous deal at the Santiago Bernabeu, whispers grew louder. His camp were reported to be testing the market across Europe and Saudi Arabia, where the money is heavy and the projects are bold. England, as always, loomed as an obvious destination for an elite forward in his prime.

On paper, the timing looked perfect for Arsenal. Vinicius, a recent Ballon d’Or contender and one of Madrid’s most reliable match-winners, would have walked straight into Mikel Arteta’s front line. The club had already cut ties with Leandro Trossard and were preparing to cash in on Gabriel Martinelli. Christos Tzolis has adapted quickly since arriving in north London after his previous spell at Norwich, but Vinicius would have been something else entirely – a statement signing, the kind that shifts a title race.

Instead, he signed a new contract at Real Madrid running through to 2032. The saga fizzled out, and Barry believes it was always heading that way.

Speaking to GOAL, via BetVictor Online Casino, the former England midfielder didn’t hide his suspicion over how the links emerged: “I was buzzing to see Vinicius Junior linked with the Premier League. It would have been great to see him over here.

“From afar, it seemed like a classic agent's tactic, if they were in negotiations, bringing in another massive club would obviously pique interest and help get that contract spiced up to meet demands before signing. It was classic agent play, personally.

“At the same time, it would have been great to see him in the Premier League, as he's one of the world's stars at the moment.”

So Arsenal move on. Vinicius is locked in at Madrid, but the Gunners’ radar is still pointed at La Liga.

This time the noise surrounds Julian Alvarez. The World Cup-winning Argentina forward, who already knows the Premier League from his stint at Manchester City, is understood to be exploring a way out of Atletico Madrid. The situation has alerted several top clubs, and Arsenal’s name has inevitably been dragged into the conversation.

Barry, whose all-time Premier League appearance record was overtaken by James Milner last season, can see why Atletico are reluctant to lose him.

“I was surprised to see that Julian Alvarez wants to leave Atletico, but I understand why they'll keep him. He's a great player, his work rate's incredible.

“He'd be a great team-mate, I'm sure, to play alongside. I was surprised by the links with Arsenal. I think it's probably similar to what they've already got.

“I'm not sure they would have needed him, but there would definitely be interest from other Premier League clubs. But yeah, I think if [Diego] Simeone is that strong on keeping him, I'm sure he'll stay for another year at least.”

Barcelona have also been circling. Short of a true central striker and searching for a focal point, they have looked at Alvarez as a solution. Their problem is familiar: money. The Spanish champions have been wrestling with tight finances, and that financial squeeze could yet give a club like Arsenal room to manoeuvre if Atletico soften their stance.

For now, though, it is all theory and tension as the clock ticks down.

Arsenal, who began the defence of their Premier League crown with a comfortable win over Coventry to open the 2026-27 campaign, have until September 1 to make their final moves. Vinicius Jr will not be stepping out at the Emirates in red and white. Whether Alvarez does, and how that reshapes the title race, is the question that will hang over the closing days of the window.