The 2021-22 season will be Vinicius Jr’s fourth year at Real Madrid. He arrived as a promising 18-year-old in the summer of 2018 for a sum worth 46 million euros, as per the Guardian. The Brazilian showed a lot of potential in his debut year, especially under Santiago Solari’s short stint where he exploded onto the scene.
But since Solari’s dismissal, Vinicius has been rather inconsistent. He’s had his moments of magic every season- the goal against Barcelona in the 2019/20 El Classico at the Santiago Bernabeu, the brace against Liverpool last season in the Champions League. However, the youngster is inconsistent more often than not and patience seems to be running thin amongst supporters.
At the age of 20, fans expect more from Vinicius and the Brazilian has the ability to deliver but it’s his lack of confidence in front of goal that keeps letting him down. Especially with Eden Hazard hopping in and out from the starting eleven due to injuries, the pressure continues to mount on Vinicius’ unstable shoulders.
Lately, in the rumour mill, there has been talks of Vinicius potentially being sent out on loan or either a permanent transfer. Note, Real Madrid certainly do not want to part ways with Vinicius Jr and it has never been the case, however, if a huge offer comes their way then the club might just reconsider their option. Los Blancos’ financial condition is concerning and the club will look to balance their books over the summer.
Could Vinicius Jr be one of those players that have to be forced out as part of the revamp? and if yes then where does he go this summer? I’ve come up with a list of three clubs that could either loan or sign Vini. Let’s have a look at the first one on the list.
ARSENAL
Real Madrid and Arsenal have somewhat developed and maintained a cordial relationship in the past few seasons with the loan deals of Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard. The Gunners have had a tough 2020-21 campaign and were struggling to break down oppositions mainly due to their toothless attack.
The likes of Alexander Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were nowhere to be found last season and Arsenal desperately require more quality in their attack. The north London side currently faces adverse financial situations and it’s highly unlikely that they could sign Vinicius Jr permanently.
A loan deal could be possible if the Brazilian is not included in Carlo Ancelotti’s plan for the season. A season-long loan at the Emirates could be a beneficial move for Vinicius Jr and Real Madrid. The 20-year-old would compete in one of Europe’s most difficult leagues which would be an added motivation towards improving his gameplay.
However, a loan move to Arsenal could also severely backfire if Vinicius Jr fails to get playing time or the entire squad underperforms once again. A similar situation to that of Martin Odegaard’s six-month spell.
The Norwegian was not very impressive but neither were any of his teammates. All in all, a move to the Emirates has a potential risk of being a nightmare but it could also be a game-changer if Arsenal improve and Vini gets ample playing time.
LIVERPOOL
According to El Chiringuito TV, Liverpool are one of the club’s that are interested in signing Vinicus Jr. The Reds endured a difficult campaign as they failed to defend their Premier League title. Their front three was abysmal with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino misfiring all throughout the season.
Liverpool desperately require reinforcement in the front three. Vinicius Jr could be their fallback man mainly due to his ability to change the game when brought on as a substitute. Jurgen Klopp certainly remembers his brace at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium and having Vini on the bench could be an option to consider.
The Reds have already gotten down to business in the transfer market with the signing of Ibrahim Konate. They’ll need more though if they are to end Manchester City‘s domestic dominance and prevent Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea from getting their hands on the title.
It’s uncertain whether Real Madrid would permanently sell Vinicius but if they could not renew terms with Sergio Ramos then anything is absolutely possible.
On that note, Liverpool would most likely approach Los Blancos for a one or two-year loan deal and might just attempt to negotiate an option to buy. Meanwhile, the other option would be a permanent transfer which in my opinion seems highly unlikely.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Paris Saint-Germain are on a roll in the transfer market. They’ve snapped up Acharf Hakimi and Georginio Wijnaldum and are expected to announce the signings of Gianluigi Donnarruma and Sergio Ramos shortly. So much so, PSG are doing everything in their power to build an attractive sporting project for Kylian Mbappe to renew and snub Real Madrid’s interest.
According to El Chiringuito TV, Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in signing Vinicuis Jr. This is not the first time Les Parisiens have shown interest in the Brazilain as they have done so multiple times in the past.
With Neymar’s string of injuries every season, PSG could make do with someone like Vinicius. Like Neymar, Vini has dancing feet that can rip apart any backline in the Ligue 1 with ease. If you pair him up with a lethal forward, like Mbappe, it’s going to be a field day for scoring goals for Paris Saint-Germain.
But moving to France would be a step down in Vinicius’ promising career, in my opinion. The Brazilian winger should continue playing in either La Liga or look at possible options such as the Premier League or Serie A. However, PSG are transforming into a formidable side and could end up being the next Champions League winners given their latest acquisitions in the transfer market.
Should Vini consider a move to PSG this summer if an offer comes to the table?