Former Real Madrid goalkeeper accuses club of ‘unforgivable mismanagement’ over Vinicius Jr contract saga

Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Santiago Canizares has accused the club of “unforgivable mismanagement” over Vinicius Jr’s new contract.

The Brazil winger has less than 12 months left on his current deal and Arsenal are believed to have sounded out his representatives over a move to the Emirates this summer.

Madrid’s pursuit of RB Leipzig’s Ivorian winger Yan Diomande, who plays in Vinicius Jr’s preferred left-wing position, has added further fuel to the fire that the 26-year-old could have played his last game for the club.

And Canizares, who made 41 appearances for Madrid before a hugely successful spell with Valencia and Spain, believes the current lack of discourse around a new deal for the two-time Champions League winner is not a good sign.

He told Cadena COPE: “The more noise there is on a player, the less likely he is to leave.

“Real Madrid are late on everything. If it is true that he does not have a signed agreement, Real Madrid has the obligation to sell him.

“You can’t lose 100 or one hundred and something million euros for letting a player finish his contract. I just think it’s going to happen. It’s unforgivable mismanagement.”

Madrid maintain Diomande pursuit

Madrid are desperate to keep Vinicius Jr, who has recently undergone chin reconstruction, and pair him with Diomande, who returned to training with Leipzig yesterday.

Sky Germany claim an initial £85million bid has been rejected by Leipzig but a fresh offer of £98m has seen talks resume. It is thought that if Madrid increase that to around £102m then Diomande would become a Real Madrid player.

That would represent a remarkable return for Leipzig who bought the winger from Leganes 12 months ago having met his release clause of £17m.

If he does move to the Santiago Bernabeu, Diomande would become the most expensive African player in history, surpassing the £72m Arsenal paid for Nicolas Pepe in 2019.

The 19-year-old made four appearances in the United States, Canada and Mexico but largely underwhelmed as the Ivorians lost to Norway at the round of 32 stage.