Viktor Gyokeres' agent has accused Sporting Lisbon of creating a 'mess' over the striker's exit, blaming the club for a breakdown in communication. Jonathan Chalkias, who works alongside agent Hasan Cetinkaya, claimed a gentleman's agreement with former sporting director Hugo Viana would have ensured a smooth transfer, but Viana's departure to Manchester City complicated matters. Gyokeres eventually joined Arsenal after a lengthy transfer saga.
Chalkias told Swedish network WTV that if Viana were still at Sporting, the deal would have been completed in an hour. He expressed disappointment at how the club treated the Sweden international, who scored prolifically and won three trophies for the Lisbon side. 'I don’t understand how a player who scored so many goals and won three trophies didn’t deserve more respect,' he said.
The situation turned sour when Sporting fined Gyokeres €350,000 (£306,000) – his entire July salary – for refusing to report for pre-season training. The club denied any agreement over a transfer fee, contradicting claims from the player's camp. Gyokeres had made clear his desire to leave, believing a deal had been struck before the transfer window opened.
Chalkias revealed that Sporting offered Gyokeres to Real Madrid and Manchester United, but the player was committed to Arsenal. He noted that Gyokeres had trusted Cetinkaya's project to move to Portugal, win titles, and return to the Premier League, with seven top-flight clubs initially interested. Despite the acrimony, Gyokeres said he did not blame anyone and called his decision to join Arsenal straightforward.
