Gyokeres has reportedly told Sporting that he will never play for the club again.Viktor Gyokeres has broken his silence following allegations that he has refused to play for Sporting Lisbon again.
The 27-year-old has been linked with a number of European powers after scoring 54 goals in all competitions for Sporting this season.
Six of the goals came in the Champions League, including an incredible hat-trick against Manchester City during the league phase.
Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea are among the clubs said to be interested in signing the former Coventry and Brighton striker.
According to Portuguese newspaper Record, Arsenal was the first club to submit an official bid for Gyokeres, valued at €60 million including add-ons, at a meeting on Wednesday.
Gyokeres has replied to media speculation over his sporting future with a telling remark.
The most recent update to his Instagram story simply states: “There is a lot of buzz at the moment, most of it is incorrect.
“I will speak when the time is right.”
Earlier this week, Sporting president Frederico Varandas accused Gyokeres’ camp of ‘blackmail’ regarding summer leave talks.
Gyokeres reportedly became irritated with Sporting’s unwillingness to sell him, despite the two parties reaching a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ in September.
The same report sensationally stated that the Swede had told Sporting officials that he would never play for the club again, thus putting the club in a tough situation.
That enraged club president Varandas, who told journalist Sebastiao Sousa-Pinto: “One of the [Gyokeres’] agent’s main concerns was whether we would seek the termination clause.
“Hugo Viana [the club’s then-sporting director] bargained with the agents in multiple sessions until the agent sought the president’s presence.
“Gyokeres did not attend this meeting, which included the president, the agent, and Viana. He wanted to ensure some things.
“And what was the agreement? That Sporting would not seek a release clause right now. For one reason: he was about to become 27, and no player leaves Portugal at that age for 100 or 90 million.
“At the same meeting, the agent wanted to tie the departure to a value. I said, ‘It’s not worth setting a value since I don’t know what will happen in a year. I’m not sure if it will be forty, sixty, or eighty. I can guarantee that I will not want R$100 million.
“After that, I never communicated with the agency or the player about departures or values. Now I see the agent in the press, disseminating information.”
“Blackmail and insults,” he added. “Sports will not be accepted. One thing is certain: Sporting will not accept €60 million plus ten. As of today, Sporting have not received any proposals for Gyokeres.
xz
