Arsenal’s pursuit of Viktor Gyökeres became one of the most controversial and drawn-out transfer sagas of the last summer window.
Even now, Arsenal fans are still unsure whether the former Sporting striker has fully justified the hefty fee paid. But over in Lisbon, though, the mood is far calmer.
At Sporting, it seems like the dominant feeling was relief. And according to the club’s manager, that was already the case before Gyökeres even left.
As per Portuguese outletMaisFutebol, Sporting head coach Rui Borges made it clear the striker’s more to Arsenal never caused anxiety behind the scenes. Instead, he suggested the timing actually brought peace of mind.
“June was when I slept the best. I was on holiday, a double champion. Forget that. I was relaxed, with a sense of duty fulfilled. So no, I slept well in June”, he revealed.
Borges did not see the transfer as a disruptive loss. Instead, it was treated as part of football’s natural cycle.
“That is part of football. A great player leaves, another comes in. And that is our job, as coaches and as a club, to find solutions and to make them work”, he explained.
The manager also pointed to Sporting’s wider structure, especially recruitment, as a reason for that confidence.
“It is a collective effort. A great effort from everyone”, he said.“From the structure as well, especially in scouting, in identifying players who fit what we believe in at Sporting.”
Arsenal transfer didn’t shake club
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres
According to the manager, departures do not change the club’s ambitions.“The goal is to keep responding with titles, with strong league campaigns, and with quality football. That is what we all want and expect.”
He finished by underlining how routine these situations are.“Within what is one departure or another, it is a natural process. It happens countless times in football.”
While Arsenal continue to assess Gyökeres’ impact in the Premier League, Sporting’s view suggests his sale was never a concern. For them, it was simply another step that had already been accepted long before the move became official.