Vinicius Junior has always been inconsistent, and he’s not robust enough for the Premier League.
That is the verdict of South American football expert Jon Cotterill, after the news that Arsenal are considering a move for the Brazilian.
talkSPORT understands that the Gunners are yet to engage in club-to-club talks for the Real Madrid winger, with the player viewed as an option rather than their no.1 target.
The 26-year-old has also been offered to Liverpool; however, the Reds have opted against pursuing a deal for the 53-cap international.
Arsenal’s interest comes after Real Madrid moved for RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, who is part of the same agency as Vinicius.
‘I’d prefer someone like Julian Alvarez’
Discussing Vini Jr’s situation in the market this summer, Cotterill was asked what other club would be interested in Los Blancos’ No.7 if he does indeed become available to sign.
He told talkSPORT’s Weekend Sports Breakfast with Katie Shanahan and Tony Cascarino: “I’m sure, like Flamengo, for example, in Brazil would love to get him, but there’s no chance.
“He’s too young; it’s too expensive. But all the big names, it depends where he could fit into the plan if Arsenal have got a plan, for example, if anybody else in the Premier League also got a plan.
“For me, okay, 26 [years old], 22 goals for Real Madrid last season, had a decent enough campaign with Brazil, four goals in the World Cup.
“But for me it’s always been inconsistent, and that’s been an issue for me.
“I also think perhaps he might not be robust enough for the Premier League, and I’d prefer someone like Julian Alvarez, the Argentine who’s at Atletico Madrid, who’s had Premier League experience as well.
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“But yeah, Vini Junior of course, the clubs are limited who’ve got that kind of price tag, but again for me it’s not only the price.
“What’s he going to do? How is he going to fit in?
“Can he fit in around the team they’ve got, and can he fit into the style they’ve got as well?”
Cotterill also added that any deal for Vinicius is likely to cost north of £100million despite him having just one year left on his contract.
Cascarino told talkSPORT: “Well, the only thing I’d say is his agent will probably say, ‘Vini, wait a year, you’ll probably get 50 yourself before we even talk about salary.’ I just don’t see that being the case.
“And also, you talked about being robust – I remember watching him last season within the Champions League against Man City, scored two away from home, played really well.
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“I thought he really gave Man City a number of issues,” Cascarino continued. “I then saw him. he backed it up.
“He played in the Super Cup, he played a game against Atletico Madrid and scored a brace straight afterwards.
“And I felt by the end of the season he was playing probably as well as he had done for a good 18 months to two years.”
‘Fabulous player but again I think inconsistent’
Cotterill replied: “Yeah, the technical side of things, there’s no question about the skills he’s got.
“He’s an absolutely fabulous player, but again I think inconsistent. And I did see him actually before when he was at Flamengo, Flamengo’s Under-17 side in the Copinha, the little cup as it’s called, the biggest youth championship in Brazil.
“So I actually went to see him quite a few years ago now, and he was a standout player, just absolutely head and shoulders above everybody else on the pitch.
“But again for me it’s that question of inconsistency.”
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Arsenal deal makes sense
Despite Cotterill’s concerns, Spanish Football Journalist Phil Kitromilides argued that Vinicius to Arsenal makes sense for all parties.
“It’s not that they’ve made a bid,” he explained to talkSPORT’s Transfer Insiders with Will Gavin and Luke Moore on Saturday evening.
“It’s not that they’ve been speaking to Real Madrid. It’s that they are interested in signing him, which is fair enough.
“And you know what, Vinicius to Arsenal makes a lot of sense actually on a lot of levels on both sides.
“Vinicius going into the final year of his contract hasn’t necessarily felt like he’s the main man at Real Madrid since the arrival of Kylian Mbappe.
“He’s been asking, I’ve been told, for around €30million a year at Real Madrid, which is about €550k a week.
“Real Madrid aren’t going to pay that. Can Arsenal come anywhere close to that?”
