Sporting President denies €60m Gyökeres exit deal | OneFootball

Sporting president Frederico Varandas has pushed back against reports suggesting the club promised Viktor Gyökeres he could leave for €60m this summer.

The Swedish striker, who is attracting serious interest from Manchester United, Arsenal, and Juventus after a sensational campaign - scoring 54 goals and providing 13 assists in 52 appearances - is said to be frustrated by Sporting’s change of stance.

According to Portuguese outlet Record, there was a gentleman’s agreement between Gyökeres and Varandas that the club would lower the 27-year-old’s €100m release clause to €60m plus €10m in add-ons for the summer transfer window.

However, a shift in the club’s position appears to have angered the striker. Reports claim he has removed all references to Sporting from his social media accounts in protest.

Varandas addressed the speculation on Wednesday, rejecting that such a fixed fee was ever agreed. He explained that discussions had taken place with the player’s representatives last year, but insisted no specific amount was set.

“This goes back to last year, after we became national champions,” Varandas began. “During the transfer window, we realised Gyökeres would stay because no offers came in. The agent approached us to discuss adding certain clauses.

“Hugo Viana, as usual, handled the relationship with the agents very well. At one point, the agent insisted that I be present in a meeting with himself and Hugo. Gyökeres wasn’t there - the agent simply wanted to clarify some things.”

Varandas confirmed that while he did make a concession regarding the €100m release clause, he never agreed to a set exit price.

“What was agreed? That we wouldn’t insist on the €100m clause. The reasoning was simple: Gyökeres was turning 27, and players rarely leave Portugal at that age for €90m or €100m.

“The agent wanted to tie his departure to a fixed amount. I told him: ‘There’s no point in setting a value now - I don’t know what the market will look like in a year. It could be €40m, €60m, €80m. What I can guarantee is we won’t demand €100m.’”

Varandas stressed that he had no further contact with the agent or the player after that meeting and criticised the ongoing leaks to the media.

“Since then, I’ve never spoken to the agent or the player about numbers or transfers. Now I see the agent leaking information to the press. Let me be clear: Sporting is fair and honours its word. Gyökeres had a phenomenal season - 54 goals, 13 assists - but we never promised he could leave for €60+10 million.

“You should know me by now. Threats, blackmail, insults - they don’t work with me. And let me also say this: as of today, Sporting haven’t received a single offer for Viktor Gyökeres, not now and not last season.”