Arsenal supporters are bracing for disappointment after Vinicius Junior wiped his Instagram page just hours after holding fresh contract discussions with Real Madrid. The move has sparked fears that the Brazilian forward is set to sign a new deal at the Bernabeu, rather than move to north London.
Vinicius Junior: Arsenal's top target
Vinicius has emerged as Arsenal's number one target this summer, with Mikel Arteta reportedly 'absolutely smitten' with the idea of adding the 26-year-old to his title-winning frontline. The Gunners, newly crowned English champions, are prepared to make Vinicius the highest-paid player in Premier League history to lure him away from Madrid.
The attacker has entered the final 12 months of his current deal after talks over a renewal broke down following last year's Club World Cup. However, it has been widely reported that Vinicius has 'prioritised' resolving his future at the Bernabeu ahead of the new season.
Contract talks and social media clues
According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, Arsenal have raised their contract offer to Vinicius' camp in the last few hours, with club chiefs ramping up efforts to end the uncertainty. The proposal is said to 'reflect Vinicius' importance to the Madrid project', and the player must now decide whether to renew or explore the opportunity presented by the Gunners.
As reports of showdown talks broke, eagle-eyed fans noticed that Vinicius had deleted his profile picture, highlights, and all main-grid posts on Instagram. The only remaining post is a story showing Madrid team-mate Federico Valverde relaxing beside a swimming pool in Dubai.
Fan reactions
While some optimistic Arsenal fans see the social media activity as a positive sign, most are preparing for the worst. One fan wrote on X: 'Vinicius has deleted all the posts on Insta. Lord, please don't do this to me.' Another bluntly tweeted: 'It's over.'
A third fan speculated: 'Removing all posts just to post his renewal contract,' while another said: 'It's for the big renewal reveal. Sadly not happening.' A Madrid supporter joked: 'Give Arsenal fans five minutes and they'll somehow turn this into proof he wants to leave Madrid.'
