Sporting president issues shock Viktor Gyokeres statement amid transfer uncertainty
Sporting president Frederico Varandas has issued an extraordinary statement regarding the future of Viktor Gyokeres.
According to reports in Portugal, the 27-year-old Swede believes he has a deal with his current employers that will let him depart the Jose Alvalade Stadium should an offer of €60million plus €10m (£58m) arrive.
That, however, has now been publicly disregarded by Sporting chief Varandas, which has reportedly left Gyokeres feeling 'furious' that a promise to him made at the beginning of the season has been broken.
After 'days' of speculation, Varandas has moved to clarify the club's stance and asking price for Gyokeres, and taken aim at the player's agent.
Threats, blackmail and insults do not work with me. And I can guarantee one thing: Viktor will not leave for €60m plus €10m
Sporting president Frederico Varandas
"I tried to take three days off, I came back yesterday,' he said, via Portuguese journalist Sebastiao Sousa-Pinto. '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. [Sporting's former sporting director] Hugo Viana, as he always did, and very well, managed the relationship with the agents.
'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.
With this game that the agent is playing, the situation is only getting worse. To date, Sporting have not had an offer for Viktor Gyokeres. Not today or last summer
Sporting president Frederico Varandas
'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 €40m, €60m or €80m. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand €100m.'
'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 even so, Sporting will not demand the release clause.
'They should know me better by now. Threats, blackmail and insults do not work with me. And I can guarantee one thing: Viktor will not leave for €60m plus €10m. I never promised this.
'With this game that the agent is playing, the situation is only getting worse. To date, Sporting have not had an offer for Viktor Gyokeres. Not today or last summer.
'Viktor Gyokeres is one of the best footballers in the history of Portuguese football, he is a fantastic professional, to date he has had zero offers and has a three-year contract.'
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