Jose Mourinho has expressed his delight after Vinicius Junior committed his future to Real Madrid, turning down a move to Arsenal. The Brazil international signed a new long-term contract earlier this week, ending speculation about his future.
Vinicius Junior's decision
The 26-year-old was reportedly ready to leave the Spanish giants amid a pay dispute. Arsenal, eager to bolster their attack with a superstar, offered Vinicius a package that would have made him the Premier League's highest-paid player. Despite being attracted to the idea of joining the English champions and Champions League finalists, Vinicius ultimately chose to stay at the Bernabeu.
Mourinho's reaction
Speaking after Real Madrid's 2-1 pre-season friendly win over Ferencvaros, Mourinho said: 'The most important thing is the renewal. Renewing the contract is a source of happiness for him, of course, but it's also a source of happiness for all of us.'
Vinicius came on as a second-half substitute in that match. Mourinho acknowledged that the winger is still recovering from his World Cup exploits, noting: 'Vini has done very few training sessions. I wasn't expecting him to take the ball and run 50 meters with it and score a goal today, his legs are still tired and fatigued. He'll definitely be in a better place next Wednesday, and the following Sunday.'
New teammates and expectations
Vinicius will have several new teammates to adapt to after Real Madrid's busy summer transfer window, which included the signing of Bernardo Silva. Mourinho spoke about Silva's role, saying: 'He is a very important player. He's another player who was on vacation. He's the type of player who completely disconnects from mental work and does nothing during the break, and he came back with much lower physical fitness that needs development. But Bernardo is a fantastic player who gives us excellent ball progression, whether playing in a deeper position or in midfield.'
