“A smaller team like Newcastle could have him”

Former Spain goalkeeper Santiago Canizares said that no team wanted Vinicius Junior as he entered the last 12 months of his Real Madrid deal this summer. The attacker has since extended his contract till 2032.

There was reported interest from Premier League champions Arsenal, but the Gunners eventually didn’t submit a bid for the Brazilian, who’s now contracted to the Santiago Bernabeu for six more years.

Having arrived at the club in the summer of 2018, Vinicius has registered a century of goals and assists, winning multiple La Liga and UEFA Champions League titles. However, Canizares feels no top team wanted Vinicius before he signed a new deal with Madrid.

“There’s been a debate this summer, right? Because he has one year left on his contract, you either sell him or you don’t; you have to consider what he’s worth in terms of footballing ability,” Canizares said on COPE. “Nobody wants a player like that in their club.

“Since Real Madrid have been in need and obligated to renew his contract, because surely no other team has even contacted him or his agent, because nobody wants a player with these characteristics, in my opinion. Well, maybe a smaller team like Newcastle could have him.”

Vinicius and Co. endured a trophyless 2025-26 campaign, with Los Blancos finishing behind Barcelona in the La Liga title race and also losing to their arch-rivals in the Supercopa Espana final for the second straight year.

How Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior fared at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior had a decent campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, where Brazil reached the Round of 16, losing 2-1 to Norway.

Vinicius, 26, registered four goals and an assist in five games – scoring in all three group outings – as Carlo Ancelotti’s side topped their group before coming from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in the Round of 32.

However, the Selecao met their match against Norway, with the loss marking their earliest exit from the World Cup in 36 years since a 1-0 defeat in the Round of 16 of the 1990 edition in Italy.

Vinicius subsequently participated in Real Madrid’s last few pre-season games ahead of the 2-1 La Liga victory at Espanyol at the weekend, where Jude Bellingham and Carlos Espi scored for new boss Carlo Ancelotti’s side.