Former Spain goalkeeper Santiago Canizares has launched a sharp critique of Vinicius Junior, suggesting that no elite clubs were interested in the forward while he was in the final year of his previous Real Madrid contract this summer. Canizares remarked that “a smaller team like Newcastle could have him,” implying a lack of high-level demand for the Brazilian international at the time. Despite this speculation, the 26-year-old has since secured his future at the Santiago Bernabeu by signing a new deal that runs until 2032.
While Premier League champions Arsenal were linked with a potential move for the attacker, they ultimately did not submit a bid for the player. Vinicius, who joined Real Madrid in 2018, has established himself as a key figure with a century of combined goals and assists, alongside multiple La Liga and UEFA Champions League titles. However, his standing faced scrutiny following a difficult 2025-26 season where Los Blancos finished behind Barcelona in the league and suffered a second consecutive defeat to their rivals in the Supercopa Espana final.
On the international stage, Vinicius recently competed in the 2026 FIFA World Cup held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He delivered a productive performance, tallying four goals and an assist across five appearances. After scoring in all three group stage matches and helping Brazil overcome Japan 2-1 in the Round of 32, the Selecao were eventually eliminated in the Round of 16 following a 2-1 loss to Norway. This defeat marked Brazil’s earliest World Cup exit since 1990.
Following his international duties, Vinicius returned to participate in Real Madrid’s pre-season preparations. He was part of the squad that secured a 2-1 victory over Espanyol in their recent La Liga opener, a match featuring goals from Jude Bellingham and Carlos Espi under the leadership of new manager Carlo Ancelotti. The report also notes that former Spain goalkeeper Santiago Canizares said that no team wanted Vinicius Junior as he entered the last 12 months of his Real Madrid deal this summer.
