Viktor Gyokeres’ move to Arsenal was one of the most talked-about transfers of the summer, not just because of the club switch, but because of the chaos behind the scenes. While fans celebrated the Swedish striker’s arrival in North London, his exit from Sporting Lisbon was far from smooth.
Now, his agents are speaking out, and Manchester City has been dragged into the controversy.
Gyokeres had a brilliant season in Portugal, scoring goals and winning three trophies with Sporting Lisbon. Many top clubs across Europe were interested in signing him, including Real Madrid and Manchester United. But it was Arsenal who finally got their man.
However, Gyokeres’ representatives claim that Sporting Lisbon made things unnecessarily difficult. They believed there was a gentleman’s agreement allowing the striker to leave if a good offer came in. But when Arsenal made their move, Sporting denied any such agreement existed.
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What followed was a tense and messy situation. Sporting fined Gyokeres €350,000, which was his full salary for July, because he refused to return for pre-season training. This decision shocked fans and worsened the relationship between player and club.
Jonathan Chalkias, one of Gyokeres’ agents, told Swedish network WTV that the entire situation could have been handled much better, especially if former Sporting director Hugo Viana had still been in charge. Viana had just left to become Manchester City’s new sporting director.
“It was a mess,” Chalkias said. “There was a gentleman’s agreement with the previous sporting director. If Hugo Viana were still at Sporting, the deal would have been done in an hour. Everything was written. We didn’t have time to start a legal battle.”
He went further, criticizing how Sporting treated a player who had given them so much. “I don’t understand how a player who scored so many goals and won three trophies didn’t deserve more respect.”
Chalkias also revealed that Sporting had tried to sell Gyokeres to Real Madrid and were making headlines with links to Manchester United. But the striker and his main agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, had already committed to Arsenal.
According to Chalkias, Gyokeres always believed in Cetinkaya’s long-term plan. The idea was to first go to a quieter league like Portugal, win trophies, and then return to the Premier League. That strategy is now complete, but it didn’t end the way they hoped.
At the time they moved to Sporting, seven Premier League clubs were already interested in Gyokeres. But they chose Sporting for the right reasons: more playtime, growth, and a shot at success. That plan worked, but they didn’t expect such resistance when it came time to move on.
Despite all this, Gyokeres himself has kept calm and positive in public. Speaking after the transfer, he said he doesn’t blame anyone for how the move happened. He admitted there were many clubs interested, but when Arsenal came knocking, it “wasn’t a difficult decision.”
What makes this transfer even more intriguing is the mention of Manchester City. The agents strongly believe that if Hugo Viana had been in charge, things would’ve gone smoothly and respectfully. Instead, the process turned into a public mess, something the player had tried to avoid.
Transfers like this are reminders of the human side of football. It’s not just about money and contracts, it’s also about trust, promises, and professional relationships. Gyokeres’ story shows how quickly those things can fall apart when leadership changes.
Now, with the dust settled, Gyokeres is ready to begin a new chapter at Arsenal. He has the talent, the drive, and the spotlight. But the behind-the-scenes drama will be remembered, especially by fans in Portugal who saw one of their heroes leave under a cloud.
The big question now is: Will he shine in England like he did in Portugal? Only time will tell, but Arsenal fans are hopeful and Sporting Lisbon might be watching with some regret.
