20 hours ago
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Viktor Gyokeres has refused to blame his former club Sporting Clube de Portugal after addressing his departure from the Portuguese giants to join Arsenal.
The Sweden international's move to the Emirates wasn’t without its challenges, as negotiations between Arsenal and Sporting went back and forth. The two clubs took some time to agree on the deal’s structure.
"Of course, I've had my ups and downs, but above all, the last month has been quite difficult," he told WTV (via Record ) in Sweden.
"There's been a lot of talk on social media about what happened or didn't happen, but people don't really know the full story. It was difficult, but I also know it made me stronger."
At the time, the Portuguese press reported Gyokeres had a 'gentleman’s agreement' allowing him to leave at the end of the 2024/25 season for less than his €100 million (£84m) release clause.
Last month, it was claimed Sporting raised his valuation from €60m (£50m) plus €10m (£8m) in add-ons to €80m (£67.7m).
According to Portuguese newspaper Record, the club’s decision left Gyokeres 'angered'. In response, the striker removed all references to Sporting and Sweden from his Instagram bio, which now simply reads 'Sportsperson'.
As talks continued, the Swede did not report to pre-season training with the Lions, while president Frederico Varandas was keen to secure the maximum possible amount in add-ons.
On the matter, Gyokeres said: "It's not something I want to talk about publicly. It's something that's settled. I feel better looking forward and I don't want to place blame on anyone.
"As a footballer, I always want to be at the top. And I felt I was ready to take the next step. Several people at Sporting knew that too."
Gyokeres also highlighted the sacrifices made to get the move over the line. "Yes, everyone had to make sacrifices to get here," he admitted.
"It wasn't an easy path, but to reach this level, sometimes it takes time. There were clubs in England, Italy, and the Middle East - some very good options.
"Of course, you think about what’s in front of you. You have to make a decision, but from the first second, I felt that this [Arsenal] was what I wanted. It wasn't a difficult decision."
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