Sporting CP Lisbon president Frederico Varandas has claimed that the reason for his club’s reluctance to let Viktor Gyökeres go is the transfer valuations of other players, who he believes have lesser value than the Swedish striker.
The Portuguese league champions have refused a few approaches from interested clubs, claiming that they are being lowballed. This is despite their agreement with the former Brighton and Hove Albion striker to allow him to leave at the end of the 2024/25 season. It is also despite the offers they have received being in excess of €60 million.
Gyökeres has taken this refusal to heart and has seen it as a betrayal of his trust. As a result, and according to reports, he has told the club that he will never play for them again. This means the club have no choice but to cash in on him while he still remains one of the hottest properties on the market.
Varandas, speaking with the media in Portugal, admitted to the pact between the club and Gyökeres, while stating that they will hold firm for what they believe is a fair price for the striker who outscored every other in the 2024/25 season, but lost the European Golden Shoe to Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid because of the Portuguese league’s ranking.
“Sporting is very calm regarding Viktor Gyökeres,” Varandas told Portuguese media. “Sporting does not need to sell him, but we remain sensitive to the dreams of Viktor and any of our athletes.
“After weeks of meetings, we are not asking for the release clause and will be reasonable regarding the price we ask for Viktor. Today, I believe there is a strong probability he will leave.
“We have been watching the market, and I saw Martin Zubimendi, who is six months younger than Viktor, leave for €65 million. I saw Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, both forwards, but who, in my opinion, do not have Viktor’s market value or quality, being negotiated for around €75 million.
“Given the demands we consider fair, I believe Viktor could leave – unless he has the worst agent in the world, which is hard for me to believe, because he is one of the best footballers in the world.”
Still, Varandas refused to confirm the exact figure he expects for Gyökeres. “The player knows, the agent knows, and I can guarantee, with absolute certainty, that Viktor will not leave for €60 million plus €10 million in add-ons.
“It’s not about trying to gain something, it’s that he simply will not leave for that – absolutely will not.”
