A departure that left open wounds

Viktor Gyökeres' move to Arsenal was filled with tension, broken negotiations, and alleged disrespect from Sporting CP. That’s according to his agent Jonathan Chalkias, who opened up in an interview with WTV. The striker’s representative accused the Portuguese club of mistreating the player despite his strong performances and the three titles he helped win.

According to Chalkias, Gyökeres endured mentally draining weeks, canceled training sessions, and a hostile atmosphere inside the club. He even claimed that if Hugo Viana (former sporting director) had stayed in charge, “the deal with Arsenal would’ve been done in an hour.” Instead, internal decisions in Lisbon made the process much more complicated.

Arsenal was always the chosen destination

Despite interest from Real Madrid and Manchester United, Chalkias insisted that Gyökeres only had one goal: to sign for Arsenal. From the start, he trusted the project led by Hasan Cetinkaya, who brought him to Portugal as part of a strategy to win titles and make a return to the Premier League.

“This industry is about trusting people. We made huge sacrifices to get the deal done,” said the agent, emphasizing that the player never wavered in his commitment.

A signing that signals a new chapter

Gyökeres' arrival at Arsenal not only strengthens the English club with a top-level striker but also highlights the pressure and emotional toll players face behind the scenes in European football. What seemed like a simple transfer turned into a drawn-out drama that, according to his agent, left scars—but also a renewed opportunity.