Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior was strongly tempted by Arsenal in the summer, his agents have revealed. 

But the Brazilian superstar hopes to spend the rest of his career with the LaLiga giants, who brought him to Europe in 2018. 

Arsenal enquired about Vinicius Jr and reports suggested they were willing to offer him a mammoth £18.5million per season - more than any player at the club.

The Gunners still hold on to hope, with Vinicius Jr yet to renew his contract, which expires at the end of the season. 

'Arsenal were very involved. They were very aggressive,' Michael Yormack, one of his agents, told Sports Boom.

'Vini’s heart is in Madrid, that’s where he’s always wanted to be, and that’s where he is, and that’s where he hopes to be for the rest of his career. I don't think there was ever a question.

'Did he ever seriously consider Arsenal? I mean of course. When a team like Arsenal rolls out the red carpet for you and makes you feel really wanted, then obviously you have to listen.'

'With Vini, he went to Madrid at a very young age, and I think there’s an element of comfort, wanting to be there and wanting to build something at Real Madrid,' said Grant Veitch, another of his agents at Roc Nation Sports International.

'There were other opportunities that arose. But I think the level of comfort he has, and him already being a star at Real Madrid, it kept him there, and he wanted to stay.

'You can branch out, but I think the comfort level of him being there since such a young age and wanting to build up his reputation and wanting to continue that and win more titles with Real Madrid, that’s the main reason he’s stayed.'

Vinicius Jr has won La Liga three times and the Champions League twice with Madrid, scoring 129 goals in 386 appearances. 

His contract expires at the end of the season and the club's position is that he must lower his demands if they are to agree an extension. Madrid would still be willing to make him their joint-highest earner alongside Kylian Mbappe.

The balance of power shifted to Mbappe when he joined from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 and Vinicius Jr's future has become a subject of increasing speculation.

He has often been a target of racism in Spain - there have been more than 20 such cases of alleged abuse towards him since he joined from Flamengo in 2018. The situation has reduced him to tears before, but he has insisted on staying in La Liga so that he doesn't 'give the racists what they want'.

Jose Mourinho admitted last week that he would have left in the summer if he were the 26-year-old, saying: 'If I were in his shoes, I probably wouldn't be here. I would have forced a move to a country where he'd be respected, but out of loyalty to Real Madrid and love for the club, he stayed.

'He believes things can improve, and he still has that smile. Nothing and no one can take it away from him.

'He's a fantastic guy, and it's easy to get along with him. I spend a few minutes alone with him every day.

'I value him immensely because he always manages to live and survive with a smile.'