As Viktor Gyökeres edges closer to joining Arsenal, the tone of the debate in Portugal continues to shift, and not always in his favour.
Appearing on A Bola da Noite, coach and TV pundit Laurindo Filho harshly criticised the Swedish striker’s recent conduct, arguing that his behaviour in the final weeks of the transfer saga has damaged his legacy at Sporting.
Filho currently manages Feirense in Portugal’s second tier and frequently features as an analyst on the Bola TV programme.
“Precisely that lack of professionalism, that lack of character in my opinion, on the part of the Swede. In the end, that’s what will remain,” he said. Filho believes that unless the club quickly finds another striker to match Gyökeres’ level, this episode will continue to linger in fans’ memories.
“It’s not just about goals, but about helping the club win titles again,” he continued. “As with everything in life, time ends up being a good counsellor. And Gyökeres, who could have been a legendary figure at Sporting, will now be remembered only as a great goalscorer.”
According to the coach, the forward’s behaviour fell well short of the club’s standards: “It’s difficult to place Gyökeres among Sporting’s immortals when his professional and human conduct was reprehensible.”
He concluded with a direct comparison to a club icon: “Sporting has, for example, Manuel Fernandes as one of its symbols, and Gyökeres will never be beside him in the club’s history. But he could have been, had he known how to act and carry himself throughout this process.”
While the transfer to Arsenal is close to being finalised, reactions like Filho’s reflect how the manner of Gyökeres’ departure may shape his long-term image in Portugal, regardless of his numbers on the pitch.
That said, not everybody in Portugal is taking Sporting’s side over the Sweden international, and on the whole there’s a desire for the saga to come to an end and his Arsenal move be confirmed quickly.
