Viktor Gyokeres Refuses To Play For Sporting CP, Feels Betrayed By Club President: Report

Last Updated:June 12, 2025, 16:04 IST

Gyokeres reportedly won't play for Sporting CP again after the club president went back on a reported 'gentleman's agreement' regarding the Swede's transfer fee.

Viktor Gyokeres for Sporting CP (X)

Drama unfolds in Lisbon, much to the delight of Arsenal and Manchester United fans, as star striker Viktor Gyokeres has reportedly declared he will not play for Sporting CP again. This comes after the club president denied reports of a “gentleman’s agreement" that would allow the Swede to leave the Portuguese club.

Gyokeres has been identified as a key transfer target for several top European clubs, including Arsenal and Manchester United.

Since his 2023 move from Coventry City, Gyokeres has scored 97 goals in 102 matches for Sporting CP, helping the club secure Primeira Liga titles in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. These achievements have established him as one of the top strikers in the market.

However, Sporting CP is determined not to let go of the prolific striker for less than what they consider a fair and fitting amount.

As a result, reports from Sky Sports and all across Portugal suggest that Gyokeres is upset with the club and will not play for them anymore, believing they reneged on a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ to allow his transfer for €60m plus €10m in add-ons, significantly less than his €100m release clause.

“I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for €60m plus €10m because I never promised that. The game the agent is playing is only making the situation worse," stated Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas on Wednesday.

When asked if the club had received offers for Gyokeres exceeding €60m, Varandas replied, “To date, Sporting has not received an offer for Viktor Gyokeres, neither today nor last season."

Varandas mentioned that while the club would not demand the full release clause, they would not set a specific price for the transfer.

“I said this: ‘It’s not worth setting a value because I don’t know what will happen in a year’s time,'" he added. “I don’t know if it will be €40m, €60m, or €80m. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand €100m."

Varandas also emphasized that “threats, blackmail, and insults" would not pressure him into accepting a lower offer, insisting that a certain figure must be met for Gyokeres, who has three years remaining on his contract, to leave José Alvalade Stadium anytime soon.

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

Read More

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