Jose Mourinho confirms Vinicius Junior's return to Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho has cleared up the uncertainty surrounding the future of Vinicius Junior. Despite ongoing reports linking the Brazilian star with a high-profile move to Arsenal, the Real Madrid manager expects his key winger to report for duty in the Spanish capital imminently.

Mourinho confirmed that Vinicius Junior, along with Brahim Diaz and Bernardo, is scheduled to arrive this Monday. The manager expressed his desire to have his full squad together as soon as possible, emphasizing the challenges of managing players returning from international duty at different stages.

I’m concerned about not having everyone, and I would like to have three weeks of work with the others. It’s not possible. On Monday, Vini Jr, Brahim, and Bernardo will arrive. Jose Mourinho

The speculation regarding an Arsenal move stemmed from a contract standoff at the Bernabeu, with the player's current deal expiring in 2027. While reports suggested the Gunners were prepared to test Real Madrid's resolve, Mourinho's comments suggest the club's focus remains on integrating the player back into the team's training program.

Reflecting on his first game back in the dugout—a 2-2 pre-season draw against Fiorentina—Mourinho praised the performance of his younger players. He specifically highlighted Endrick and Denzel Dumfries for their rapid adaptation and fitness, noting that despite the team cycling through different phases of physical fatigue, the commitment shown was exactly what he wanted to see.