Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres was docked his entire salary for the month of July over his conduct during negotiations with Arsenal, a report has revealed.
Gyökeres made no secret of his determination to join Arsenal and ended up going on strike, refusing to return for pre-season in an attempt to force Sporting to abide by a gentleman’s agreement which club president Frederico Varandas publicly insisted did not exist.
The two clubs have finally reached an agreement over a transfer worth an initial €63.5million (£55.5 million, $74.6 million) plus a further €10 million (£8.7 million, $11.7 million) in bonuses, but not before Gyökeres accepted a significant fine for his refusal to train.
According to Record, Gyökeres missed a total of 13 days with his protest, but a social media post of him on holiday in Mallorca when he should have been in training left Varandas seething and saw the Sporting president demand a full month’s salary as punishment.
Keen to move on from the saga, Gyökeres agreed to Varandas’s demands and accepted the fine of €350,000 (£306,000, $410,000).
Fortunately for Gyökeres, he may not feel the financial blow after being granted permission to collect the bonuses owed to him for his performances last season. On top of a payment for being part of Sporting’s Liga Portugal title victory, Gyökeres also pocketed €500,000 ($587,000) for recording more than 50 goals and assists combined.
The star forward is now putting the finishing touches on a move to Arsenal which will see him handed the club’s famous No.14 shirt, worn by none other than Thierry Henry, as well as a salary which will likely help him move on from his fine fairly quickly.
The Gunners are in Singapore on their pre-season tour but are hopeful of welcoming Gyökeres into the group imminently, although his lack of training over the past month may delay his first appearance for his new side.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Viktor Gyokeres Issued ‘Huge Fine’ Over Arsenal Transfer Protests.