Mourinho reveals Vinicius Junior rejected record Arsenal offer to stay at Real Madrid

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Arsenal made a significant attempt to sign Vinicius Junior during the recent summer transfer window. The Gunners were reportedly prepared to make the 26-year-old the highest-paid player in their squad to lure him away from the Bernabeu.

Mikel Arteta was heavily invested in bringing the Brazilian to London while Vinicius was in the final year of his previous contract. Despite the massive financial package offered by the Premier League side, the winger chose to commit his long-term future to Madrid, signing a new deal that runs until 2032.

Loyalty over respect

Mourinho suggested that he might have handled the situation differently given the treatment Vinicius has received in Spain. The winger has frequently spoken about the racial abuse he has endured in La Liga, noting that he stayed to avoid giving those responsible what they wanted.

"If I were in his shoes, I probably wouldn't be here."

Jose Mourinho

The Real Madrid boss praised the player's dedication to the club, even though he believes a move to a different league might have offered the player more personal peace.

"I would have forced a move to a country where he'd be respected..."

Jose Mourinho

Vinicius has been a key figure for Mourinho this season, starting nine of the first ten matches. However, the team will have to cope without him for the next four games, including the upcoming El Clasico, as he serves a suspension for pulling an opponent's hair. This comes after a mid-week Champions League victory over Roma, where Mourinho criticized Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini for the physical battle Vinicius faced.

Real Madrid currently find themselves nine points behind league leaders Barcelona. With the Brazilian star sidelined, the pressure is on the rest of the squad to close the gap, starting with Sunday's home fixture against Sevilla.