UNSPORTING BEHAVIOUR

SPORTING president Frederico Varandas has issued a sterk warning to striker Viktor Gyokeres after the Swedish international failed to report for pre-season training on time.

The 27-year-old was expected to join up with the squad on Saturday at their training camp in Portugal’s Algarve region, following an extended break.

However, Gyokeres was absent, prompting disciplinary action from the club.

Gyokeres, who has three years remaining on his contract, has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal following a jitz campaign in which he scored 54 goals.

But Varandas has made it clear that Sporting will not be pressured into selling the star.

Varandas wysed: “We’re calm. Everything will be resolved with the closing of the market, a heavy fine, and an apology to the group. If they [interested clubs] don’t want to pay fair market value for Viktor, we are very comfortable with that for the next three years.

“If the geniuses who are devising this strategy think that this puts pressure on me to facilitate the exit, they are not only completely wrong but are also making the player’s exit even more complicated.

“No one is above the club’s interests, whoever they may be.”

Since his arrival from Coventry City in 2023, Gyokeres has netted an astonishing 97 goals in 102 appearances, helping Sporting secure back-to-back Primeira Liga titles in 2023-24 and 2024-25.

Sporting are set to face Scottish champions Celtic in a friendly at Estadio Algarve on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Gunners’ recurring transfers from Chelsea continue with the £52 million (R1.3 billion) move for Noni Madueke, sparking backlash from mense online.

Since 2019, Arsenal have signed six players from their rivals, spending £142m, but with mixed results.

Madueke, likely to compete on the left wing, faces tough competition.