Jay Bothroyd believes Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior won’t be able to have an immediate impact at the North London club.
Former Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd has questioned whether Vinicius Junior would be able to make an immediate impact at Arsenal if the Brazilian eventually completes a move from Real Madrid to the Emirates.
The Arsenal-linked winger continues to dominate transfer speculation after uncertainty over his long-term future at Real Madrid. The Spanish giants haven’t been able to make any significant progress in renewal talks with the 26-year-old.
Since he has entered the final year of his deal at Los Blancos, the team in white could decide to cash in on him following crunch talks with him and his camp.
Arsenal remain attentive to developments should an opportunity arise in the transfer market. Despite Vinicius’s status as one of world football’s most dangerous attackers, Bothroyd believes adapting to the Premier League, particularly under Mikel Arteta, would not be as straightforward as many expect.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former striker said, “Yeah, even someone of his quality, Teddy, it’s going to take time for him to bed into the Premier League. I don’t think it’ll be a case of him coming in and ripping it up straight away.”
Bothroyd explained that the physical demands of English football, especially for wide players, would present a different challenge for the Real Madrid star.
Transition to Arsenal won’t be easy for Vinicius Junior
“Especially in those wide positions. When you look at the Premier League now, all the full-backs are really quick and strong. I believe it will take time for him to adapt to Arsenal’s playing style. He would have to do more defensive support tracking back, and that’s what Arteta demands from this team.”
The former Arsenal youth team player also highlighted the tactical differences between the Spanish giants and the Premier League champions, suggesting Vinicius enjoys considerably more attacking freedom in Spain.
“When you watch him play for Real Madrid, I’m not saying he’s lazy, but he gets into positions where he can stay high up the pitch and break quickly. That’s the way they play. He is their primary outlet on the break.”
According to Bothroyd, such a role would not be available at Arsenal, where Arteta expects every player to contribute defensively before launching attacks. Bothroyd acknowledged the Brazilian’s immense ability and believes the winger could eventually thrive in England if given enough time.
“He would have to adapt to a different role at Arsenal. There’s no doubt he’s a superstar. It would be a statement signing, and I think he would be successful in the Premier League eventually. I just can’t see it happening because of the financial package.”
For now, Vinicius’ contract talks with Real Madrid remain his immediate priority. Arsenal continue to monitor his situation from afar. Mikel Arteta is desperate to bring in a superstar winger this summer. While they have signed Christos Tzolis, he wants a massive upgrade on the left, and the Brazilian would be the perfect signing for them.
However, striking a deal won’t be easy even if Los Blancos were ready to cash in on him. They will demand a premium for a player who has contributed towards 228 goals for them, and on top of that, he is currently on massive wages at the Spanish club and might look for a hike if he were to move this summer.
