Mijatović Warns Vinícius
The former Real Madrid sporting director weighed in on the Brazilian star's potential departure and urged him to think carefully before leaving the Bernabéu.
The former Real Madrid sporting director weighed in on the Brazilian star's potential departure and urged him to think carefully before leaving the Bernabéu.
The main talking point of this summer's transfer window is the potential departure of Vinícius Júnior from Real Madrid. The Brazilian international arrived at the club eight years ago, but now it seems he is increasingly leaning toward the exit door. Predrag Mijatović, the former sporting director of the Madrid club and legendary Montenegrin footballer, commented on the situation for the Spanish media outlet Cadena SER.
Mijatović noted that the entire situation leads him to conclude that Vinícius is not overly keen on extending his stay. "At this point in the summer, with just one year left on his contract, this whole situation tells me that Vinícius isn't really all that interested in a contract extension," Mijatović told Cadena SER.
As someone who knows the inner workings of high-level negotiations inside out, Mijatović believes the Brazilian is already weighing his options. "When you reach this stage, it seems to me that he's thinking about other offers and considering them. A lot of people are talking about Vinícius. From what can be seen, Arsenal are very keen to bring him in, and they have the idea of opening the checkbook completely and doing whatever it takes to sign him," he added.
Mijatović then sent a clear warning to the young star, drawing on his own experience. He stressed that Real Madrid must preserve its greatness and that Vinícius needs to understand where he is. He admitted that he himself was among those players who left somewhat angry, but he quickly realized the weight of the mistake.
"There have been many players who left, myself included, a bit angry, and then what happens is that wherever you go, the very next day when you arrive at a training ground that isn't Valdebebas, when you play at a stadium that isn't the Bernabéu, you start saying: 'My God, how wrong was I...'" Mijatović said.
Although Arsenal's interest is no secret, the final decision has not yet been made. Vinícius's contract with Real Madrid expires next season, and according to available information, a contract extension is currently not on the horizon.
