When Viktor Gyokeres signed for Arsenal, it was widely reported that his agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, waived his commission to help get a deal over the line.
The decision followed weeks of drawn-out negotiations between Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon and a deteriorating relationship between the Portuguese club and their star striker, who refused to return to pre-season training in protest at the reneging of a supposed gentleman’s agreement allowing him to leave for £59 million.
For his troubles, Gyokeres was hit with a hefty fine by Sporting president Frederico Varandas, who publicly dismissed talk of any such agreement criticised “the geniuses who are devising this strategy [who] think that this puts pressure on me.”
In the end, Sporting secured a package slightly closer to their asking price, padded with easily achievable add-ons, while Cetinkaya smoothed things by giving up his 10%.
Varandas later gloated: “I have fond memories of his agents. I think they’re very good, because I made €90 million and paid no commission. They’re excellent agents. I have the best memories…zero commission.”
The fee was in fact closer to €76 million, and Varandas’ recent comments might come back to bite him as Cetinkaya reportedly has plans to claw back some of his missing millions through the courts.
According to Correio da Manhã, the agent also feels publicly defamed, with Gyokeres himself willing to testify on his behalf.
So, a messy saga that looked finished may yet have another chapter.
Arsenal, for their part, will be hoping it doesn’t turn into an unwelcome distraction for their new striker, who could soon find himself giving evidence against his old club in Portugal.