Explosive Viktor Gyokeres 'blackmail' statement made in Man Utd transfer update
Gyokeres has drawn interest from across Europe and the Saudi Pro League, with Arsenal and Manchester United among contenders for his signature. The 27-year-old is thought to prefer a move to the Premier League.
But Varandas has denied he agreed to allow Gyokeres to leave if an offer reaching £60million arrived for the Swedish forward. And the president has suggested there has yet to be an offer on the table for the forward.
"One thing you should already know is me better," said Varandas, per Record. "Threats, blackmail and insults don't work with me.
"I can guarantee that Viktor Gyökeres will not leave for €60m+10m because I never promised him that. This game that the agent is playing only makes the situation worse. To this day, Sporting has not had an offer for Viktor Gyökeres, neither today nor last season."
Gyokeres' fury is said to stem from his belief that the Portuguese giants are demanding £67m, a figure almost £10m more than he expected. While Varandas accepted the club will not demand the player's release clause be activated, he attempted to explain what he considers the truth of the agreement made with Gyokeres' agent.
New Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana played a crucial role before Varandas was required to enter negotiations.
"I think it's fair to explain the whole process. The process started last year when the season ended, Sporting were champions and had a fantastic season," Varandas explained.
"During the transfer window we realised that Viktor was going to stay at Sporting because we didn't receive a single offer for him. When the season started, the agent approached Hugo Viana several times, asking if we could add an extra fee to the contract if he scored 'x' goals; I gave Viana the opportunity to negotiate, within reason.
"Viana manages the relationship with the agents, and very well, this is done by the sporting director. One of the agent's biggest concerns was whether we would demand the value of the 100 million clause next year.
"Viana negotiated with the agents over several meetings, until the agent himself asked for the president's presence to settle the matter once and for all. The issue of the bonus for 'x' goals seemed reasonable and at that meeting, where the president, the agent and Viana were present, no player was present, Viktor was not present, the agent wanted to guarantee certain things."
"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. 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. The president of Sporting said that the club would not demand the clause and that we would adjust the value to Viktor's performance, he was one of the best players ever to step on the pitch in Portugal."
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