Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has publicly named Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr as his dream signing, as the Gunners monitor the Brazilian's contract situation at the Bernabeu. Vinicius Jr has entered the final 12 months of his current deal and talks over an extension have not yet yielded a breakthrough.
Odegaard's Dream Signing
In an interview with TV 2 last year, Odegaard said: "I just said that Vinicius Jr is the best in the world so it’s natural to take him." The Arsenal captain's admiration is shared by other members of the squad.
Gabriel and Martinelli Weigh In
Vinicius Jr's Brazil teammate Gabriel, who plays as a defender for Arsenal, has a close relationship with the winger and posted a supportive message after Vinicius missed out on the Ballon d'Or to Rodri in 2024. Alongside a picture, Gabriel added a gold medal emoji and captioned: "Melhor do mundo!!!" (Best in the world).
Gabriel Martinelli, whose Arsenal contract expires next summer with a club option to extend, has also expressed his desire to play alongside Vinicius Jr at club level. While on international duty in 2024, Martinelli said: "It is a great pride to play with Vinicius Jr, to be with him every day as well. I see a special boy who deserves it. In my opinion, he deserves to win the Ballon d’Or."
Arsenal's Interest
The Gunners are interested in signing the 26-year-old but face a waiting game as Vinicius holds contract talks with Real Madrid. No breakthrough has been made on an extension so far. Arsenal are monitoring the situation and would make a move if encouraged by the player's representatives. It would take a huge financial package, but the club is reportedly ready to make Vinicius Jr the best-paid player in Arsenal's history. However, the interest is still at an early stage and Vinicius Jr may yet stay at Real Madrid.
With Arsenal signing Christos Tzolis this summer and still pushing for another winger, Martinelli's future is uncertain. If Vinicius Jr were to join, the club would need to free up wage bill space, and a significant offer for Martinelli would be considered.
