As Viktor Gyokeres continues to be linked with a move away from Sporting Lisbon, some previous comments from Cristiano Ronaldo have bobbed to the surface
Viktor Gyokeres is not the first Sporting Lisbon player to be at the centre of a huge transfer saga. Gyokeres, 27, reportedly wants to leave the club this summer and is linked to a handful of Premier League sides.
Recent reports have claimed the ex-Coventry City forward has threatened to go on strike to force an exit. Arsenal and Manchester United have both been heavily linked, but it appears either club will have a hard time bartering with the Portuguese champions, who are demanding £67million, despite Gyokeres reportedly being of the impression that he could depart for as little as £60m.
Six years ago, Gyokeres’ potential future team-mate Bruno Fernandes – who was at Sporting at the time – was of interest to United and Tottenham, but the club were reluctant to sell. Eventually, United signed him at the end of the 2020 January transfer window in a £67.8m deal.
Before the Red Devils secured his signature, Ronaldo made a six-word remark where he appeared to tell Fernandes to do everything he could to leave the Jose Alvalade Stadium. Speaking to Portuguese television station TVi, Ronaldo said: “Nobody knows why he (Fernandes) doesn’t leave.”
The ex-United forward also said he had spoken to Fernandes and urged him to do everything he could to fulfil his potential, suggesting the midfielder has to leave Sporting to get to the top of his game. He added: “Possibly this new generation will be the best at the talent level.
“But that’s not enough. They have to want to. I have spoken to him [Fernandes]. I’m a captain who wants to help and be helped.”
Gyokeres is no international team-mate of Ronaldo’s but he can certainly relate to what the now Al-Nassr forward said to Fernandes. Ronaldo also left Sporting to join United in a £12.2m move all the way back in 2003.
While Sir Alex Ferguson said United had a positive relationship with Sporting, the Scot also admitted the deal took, “some time” to get over the line. United failed in signing Fernandes in the 2019 summer transfer market and were close to missing out on him again the following January, but managed to secure a deal with one day left of the window.
If United are to sign Gyokeres this year, they could be made to wait in similar fashion. Portuguese outlet Record understands Gyokeres was under the impression that he and the club had agreed a gentleman’s agreement, which would allow him to leave if a bid of £50m plus £8.4m in add-ons was made.
However, Sporting president Frederico Varandas recently denied the existence of this agreement. The Lisbon chief said: “I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60m euros plus 10m euros because I never promised that. To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres – neither today nor last season.”
Lisbon are now understood to be after £67m from potential suitors. Gyokeres has scored a barnstorming 97 goals in 102 appearances since his £20m move from Coventry City in 2023. CNN Portugal recently claimed Gyokeres’ agent Hasan Cetinkaya has met with Arsenal’s owners.
It’s also understood that the north Londoners sent a delegation to Lisbon last month to discuss a move for the striker. Talks are described as being “very advanced” between the two sides.
However, Arsenal have also been linked with a move for RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko. The young Slovenian has been on their radar for a long time, but the Daily Mail understands the Bundesliga giants are demanding at least £75m for his services.
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