The Controversy Surrounding Viktor Gyokeres’ Transfer to Arsenal
The transfer of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP to Arsenal has sparked a series of heated claims and counter-claims, with his representative accusing the Portuguese club of creating a “mess” by offering the striker to Manchester United before finalizing the deal with Arsenal. The 27-year-old forward, who recently completed a £64 million move to the Gunners, has been at the center of a high-profile saga that involved multiple clubs and intense negotiations.
Gyokeres’ agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, had previously suggested that an agreement on the transfer fee was reached before the summer window opened, which further escalated tensions with Sporting CP. In response, the club fined Gyokeres €350,000—equivalent to his entire July salary—for refusing to report for pre-season training earlier this month. This decision came as a blow to the striker, who had already been under pressure due to the ongoing transfer drama.
Jonathan Chalkias, who works alongside Cetinkaya in managing Gyokeres’ career, claimed that Arsenal was always the preferred destination, despite Sporting’s attempts to attract interest from other clubs. He described the situation as a “mess” and expressed frustration over how the club handled the transfer process. According to Chalkias, there was a “gentleman’s agreement” with the previous Sporting director, Hugo Viana, which could have expedited the deal if he were still in charge.
He emphasized that the agreement was already in place, and there was no time to engage in legal battles. Chalkias also questioned why a player who scored so many goals and won three trophies didn’t receive more respect during the transfer process. He highlighted the sacrifices made by both the player and his representatives, which ultimately led to the successful move to Arsenal.
Chalkias added that Sporting had even offered Gyokeres to Real Madrid and made headlines with Manchester United, but the commitment to Arsenal remained firm. He noted that Gyokeres always trusted Cetinkaya’s vision, which included moving to a league with less exposure, such as the Portuguese Primeira Liga, to win titles and eventually return to the Premier League. At the time, there were already seven Premier League clubs interested in the striker.
A Difficult Journey to Arsenal
In a separate interview, Gyokeres admitted that his transfer to Arsenal wasn’t an easy path. He acknowledged the challenges faced during the process, stating that everyone had to make some sacrifices to get to where they are now. “It wasn’t an easy path, but I think sometimes that’s what it takes to get to the top,” he said.
Gyokeres reflected on the ups and downs of the past month, which was particularly difficult due to the constant media attention and social media speculation. “There was a lot of talk in the press and on social media, but people don’t really know what really happened. It was mentally tough to go through that, but these things also make us stronger.”
He also addressed the options available to him this summer, mentioning that there were several clubs in England, Italy, and even the Middle East that showed interest. However, he stressed that from the very beginning, he felt that Arsenal was the right choice. “Of course, you think about what you have in front of you. You have to make a decision, but from the first second I felt that this [Arsenal] was what I wanted. It wasn’t a difficult decision.”
Gyokeres concluded by emphasizing that he doesn’t need to blame anyone or point fingers at others’ decisions. “I don’t gain anything from that, even though it seems like some people enjoy telling others how to behave. I don’t need to do that.” His focus remains on the future and the opportunities that lie ahead at Arsenal.
