Vinicius Jr returns to Real Madrid training as Mikel Arteta ‘pledges to build Arsenal team around him in sales pitch’

VINICIUS JR has returned to Real Madrid training as Arsenal continue to pursue a blockbuster summer transfer. He rocked up at Los Blancos’ Valdebebas complex on Monday morning amid reports that Mikel Arteta has made a personal effort to convince the Brazilian to move to north London. Vinicius Jr has returned to Real Madrid training Credit: Getty Mikel Arteta is reportedly leading Arsenal’s ambitious attempts to buy the Brazilian Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Spanish outlet AS claim that Arteta himself is now leading the “operation” to sign Vini. It is said that the Premier League title- winning boss has promised to build the entire Arsenal project around him. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! Vinicius has just 12 months left on his contract in Madrid and talks have been at a standstill ever since last year. The winger told Madrid he would not be extending with Xabi Alonso in charge, and there has still been no breakthrough since his January departure. With Arsenal plotting a major rebuild on the left after losing Leandro Trossard and already bringing in Christos Tzolis, Vinicius Jr would be an enormous coup. And Arteta has told the player just how important he would be at the Emirates Stadium. His sales pitch included selling Arsenal as the next dominant team in Europe with Vinicius in attack. However, contrary to some online suggestions, Vini has not agreed personal terms with Arsenal yet. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Arsenal ticket and hospitality deals GET tickets to see Arsenal home games with these official deals. The packages include optional upgrades to VIP hospitality. 21 Aug v Coventry City — BOOK HERE 6 Sep v Chelsea — BOOK HERE 10 Oct v Leeds United — BOOK HERE 24 Oct v Everton — BOOK HERE 7 Nov v Hull City — BOOK HERE More games available here. *If you click on a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue. In fact, some say he is keen to remain at Madrid instead – but Arsenal are willing to pounce if anything changes. Arteta is hoping to persuade Vinicius, whose World Cup campaign ended on June 5, just under a month before he was back in training, that their interest is absolute. Vinicius was seen being driven into Madrid’s luxury training centre in a black BMW. And he will now meet with new manager Jose Mourinho, who is thought to be desperate to keep his star forward. Madrid don’t want to lose him either – and would even hold out just to see him go for free next year. Comment now