Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas has blasted Viktor Gyokeres and his agent, insisting the Arsenal and Manchester United target will not leave for £58million despite a reported ‘gentleman’s agreement.’
Gyokeres is one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe having scored 102 goals in his first two seasons in the Portuguese capital.
Arsenal have been exploring a deal while United have not given up hope of luring him to Old Trafford despite their lack of European football on offer next season.
The subject of his future has dominated headlines in Portugal this week. Despite having a €100million (£84m) release clause, it has been widely reported Sporting will allow him to leave him for €60m plus €10m (£50m plus £8m) in add-ons this summer, stemming from an apparent agreement between the club and player’s representatives last year.
Sporting president Varandas has confirmed the club are prepared to let the Sweden international leave for less than that €100m release clause – but insisted there has at no stage been an agreement over a specific fee.
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In a brutal response to the stand-off, Varandas revealed the club are still waiting on offers for the striker who is now agitating for a move, insisting the club will not be ‘threatened or blackmailed’ into doing business.
‘It was agreed that Sporting would not demand the release clause at the end of the following season, especially because he was going to be 27,’ Varandas said, recalling talks that took place between Sporting, sporting director Hugo Viana and Gyokeres’ representatives last summer.
‘Then, we knew Viktor’s dream of going to a club where he could fight for the Champions League and we have common sense. We guaranteed that we would not demand 100 million.
‘In that meeting, the agent wanted to anchor the departure to a value, he spoke of 60 million, 70 million… And I said “there’s no point in setting a value because I don’t know what will happen here in a year, if he gets injured, if he has a disappointing season.
‘There’s no point in setting a value, I don’t know if it will be 40, 60 or 80. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100 million”.
‘From then on, I never spoke to the agent again, I never spoke to the player about departures and values.
‘10 months have passed and I see the agent in the press spouting information here and there, but Sporting has common sense, it keeps its word.’
Varandas unequivocally ruled out the possibility of Gyokeres leaving for that cut-price fee, warning recent speculation led by the Swede’s agent agent ‘only makes the situation worse’.
‘One thing you should already know is me better. Threats, blackmail and insults don’t work with me. I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60+10 because I never promised him that.
‘This game that the agent is playing only makes the situation worse. [Are there offers for 60 million?] To this day, Sporting has not had an offer for Viktor Gyokeres, neither today nor last season.’
