Sporting CP are facing yet another alleged boycott threat from a Manchester United transfer target, after Viktor Gyökeres is reportedly in conflict with the club.
Sporting CP are reportedly dealing with a player boycott threat, as the situation surrounding star striker Viktor Gyökeres seems to be getting complicated. – Gyökeres is one of the world’s hottest attackers and has attracted interest from several big clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester United and Juventus.
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After scoring 97 goals in two seasons for the Portuguese giants, it was reported that Gyökeres had a gentleman’s deal to leave Sporting, and the player himself was under the impression that he could be sold for €60 million plus €10 million in additional payments, instead of the €100 million buyout clause in his contract.
However, with rumours that the club is now demanding €80 million, Gyökeres believes that Sporting are going back on their word, and he is now willing to go on strike to force through a transfer. He has reportedly told manager Rui Borges and other club officers that he will not play anymore.
In response, club president Frederico Varandas issued a forceful statement on the matter, accusing Gyökeres and his entourage of “blackmail and insults”.
He also stressed that the 27-year-old will not be sold for 60 million euros plus 10 million euros.
What happened to the last Sporting player who “refused to play”?
The situation is almost identical for Sporting as in 2020, when star player Bruno Fernandes wanted to leave the club for Manchester United.
In the summer of 2020, it looked like Fernandes would sign for Tottenham after positive talks, but Sporting made a U-turn and increased the price. Instead, they sold Raphinha to Rennes.
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According to the BBC, an enraged Fernandes is said to have asked Varandas to walk away when he tried to explain his thinking.
Six months later, when United came on the scene, Fernandes is said to have confronted Varandas again when Sporting came up hard in the price negotiations.
According to Duncan Castles, who spoke on the Transfer Window podcast, Fernandes didn’t hold back, bluntly telling Varandas, “You cut my legs out from under me this summer.”
Referring to the Tottenham deal falling through, Fernandes told the then 45-year-old that he felt promised a transfer in January, saying: “I have to leave now.”
It was also claimed that Fernandes threatened to refuse to play in the derby against Benfica in order to force a transfer, but he still ended up playing in a 2-0 defeat.
In the end, the former Udinese and Sampdoria player got his way, when he signed for United for a total transfer fee of £68 million. Which was about 10 million euros higher than the valuation and exactly what Sporting wanted. Bruno Fermandes has since made 290 appearances and scored 98 goals for Manchester United.
