Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas has launched a scathing attacking on star striker Viktor Gyokeres with Manchester United continuing to explore a move for the Swedish international.
Gyokeres, 27, has a release clause worth €100 million in his contract at the José Alvalade Stadium. But he is thought to have a gentleman’s agreement in place which dictates Sporting would sanction a sale if a €70 million proposal is tabled this summer.
United have identified a new number nine as a priority with Ruben Amorim advocating for a reunion with Gyokeres at Old Trafford, having brought the Swede to Lisbon in 2023 and helped develop him into one of Europe’s most lethal forwards.
A report relayed by The Peoples Person yesterday revealed Varandas has since reneged on this arrangement, however. Instead, the club president was demanding a fee of €80 million amid growing interest across the continent in the striker, as well as the Saudi Pro League.
Gyokeres is believed to have been incensed by this decision, informing Sporting he would not play for the club again in an effort to force through an exit.
In response, Varandas has taken the extraordinary step to continue the war of words in public with accusations of “blackmail and insults” from the striker and his representatives, as relayed by Portuguese journalist Sebastião Sousa-Pinto on X (formerly Twitter).
“I tried to take three days off, I came back yesterday. I saw so much information and counter-information that it is only fair to come and explain the process.
“It started last year, when the season ended and Sporting became national champions. During the transfer market we saw that he was going to stay because there was no offer. The agent spoke to us to add some clauses. Hugo Viana, as he always did, and very well, managed the relationship with the agents. This relational space is established with the sports director.
“One of the agent’s biggest concerns was whether we would demand the termination clause. Hugo Viana negotiated with the agents over several meetings until the agent demanded the presence of the president. At this meeting, which included the president, the agent and Viana, Gyokeres was not present. He wanted to guarantee certain things.
And what was agreed? That Sporting would not demand a release clause now. For one reason: he was going to be 27 years old and no player leaves Portugal at 27 for 100 or 90 million.
“In that same meeting, the agent wanted to anchor the exit to a value. I said this sentence: ‘It’s not worth us setting a value because I don’t know what will happen in a year’s time.
“I don’t know if it will be 40, 60 or 80. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand R$100 million.
From then on, I never spoke to the agent again, I never spoke to the player about departures or values. Now I see the agent in the press releasing information. I want to make one thing clear: Sporting has common sense and keeps its word.
“Gyokeres scored 63 goals and 10 assists. Fantastic performance. Certainly one of the best players to have ever stepped onto Portuguese turf. And Sporting will not demand the clause.
“Now blackmail and insults, Sporting will not accept. One thing is certain: Sporting will not accept 60 million plus 10. As of today, Sporting has not received any proposal for Gyokeres.”
The public dispute represents a conflicting development for United as the Red Devils prioritise reinforcements in Amorim’s forward line.
On the one hand, Gyokeres’ future with Sporting appears untenable such is the vitriol of his president’s statement, making a departure almost certain. But on the other, Varandas makes it clear the club “will not accept” the €70 million agreement which interested clubs had been banking on paying to secure the Swede’s signature.
And with the budget at Old Trafford drained by the signing of Matheus Cunha for £62.5 million and a prospective move for Bryan Mbeumo at a similar price, United were already struggling to find the finances to meet this threshold.
If it increases even further, a “dream” reunion for Amorim with his star striker may prove too difficult a wish for United executives to grant.
Featured image Michael Campanella via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
