Viktor Gyokeres shows true character in response to agent's 'messy' Arsenal claim

New Arsenalace Viktor Gyokeres has declined to join his agent in criticising former club Sporting CP over the handling of his summer transfer.

Gyokeres, who netted an impressive 97 goals in 104 appearances for Sporting, seemed destined for a high-profile move this window. He eventually signed for the Gunners last weekend in a deal worth up to £63.7million, despite interest from Manchester United, who he opted to reject.

However, the transfer was far from straightforward. Sporting denied the existence of a gentleman's agreement that would have allowed Gyokeres to depart for less than his release clause, leading to a drawn-out saga and a fine for missing a training camp.

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Jonathan Chalkias, a colleague of Gyokeres' agent Hasan Cetinkaya, criticised Sporting this week, accusing them of showing little respect to the striker. However, Gyokeres himself has refrained from making similar comments.

In an interview with Swedish media outlet WTV, Chalkias suggested that former Sporting chief Hugo Viana, now at Manchester City, would have honoured the much-debated gentleman's agreement, allowing his client a smoother exit for a reduced fee, reports the Mirror.

"It was a mess," he recounted, referring to the complications in his transfer. "There was a gentleman's agreement with the previous sporting director.

"If Hugo Viana were still at Sporting, the deal would have been done in an hour. Everything was written, we didn't have time to start a legal battle.

"I don't understand how a player who scored so many goals and won three trophies didn't deserve more respect. The sacrifices we made were the turning point for the deal to happen."

The dispute over the gentleman's agreement escalated when Gyokeres was slapped with a £306,000 fine, equivalent to his July wages, after he failed to return for pre-season training, hoping to expedite his move.

Yet, after finalising his switch to Arsenal, Gyokeres spoke to the media without bitterness: "I don't need to throw mud at anyone," he said. "I don't need to say what others have done or decided.

"I don't do that, even though there are people who seem to need to tell others how to behave. I'm not like that. As a footballer, you always strive to reach the top. I felt ready to take the next step, and I believe many people at the club expected that before the season ended.

"I didn't find it strange that this desire came up this summer. I don't think it came from our side either. Besides, my agents work for what's best for my career, so there was some clash of interests, but that's part of football.

"It's been quite demanding mentally," he added. "It's been hard, but it also makes us stronger. Of course, I may have questioned it a few times, but I always believed it would happen.

"So it was that balance over those weeks that made everything quite difficult, but now it's even more enjoyable to be here. I feel very relieved and happy now."