Gyökeres' desires will be fulfilled.
From 70 Mill to Kvaratskhelia's Gold
The current drama surrounding Sporting CP's star striker, Viktor Gyökeres, is a million-dollar problem - or should I say, a 70 million euro problem, specifically in the Portuguese version. This dilemma is nearly the opposite of Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone's excuse for their Club World Cup defeat, (with a cheeky nod to his previous four-time defeat by Vitinha and co.)
Simeone, who renewed his contract for 26 million euros a year until 2027, reminded everyone after the loss that when he had a problem on the left side in January, Kvaratskhelia from PSG graced the team with 70 million euros. Kvaratskhelia, the Georgian wing master, moved from Naples to Paris and proved himself an indispensable part of PSG's unforgettable European championship team, contributing with seven goals and six assists in just 26 games, delighting Simeone with this number.
Now, Frederico Varandas, a key player in the Gyökeres novel, would also like a negotiating base around 70 million and wouldn't mind doing business with Italians. Sources suggest that the interlocutor wouldn't be Hollywood-like Aurelio De Laurentiis - president of the club that won the Serie A title. Instead, it would be Damien Comolli, the new sporting director of Juventus, who has a knack for statistics-based signings.
With Gyökeres' prolific performance (97 goals and 27 assists in 102 challenges), Juve has been thinking of a more acceptable proposal for Sporting CP. Life might be sweeter for all if it weren't for Gyökeres himself dispelling the departure rumors, claiming that most of the information circulating is false.
If Sporting CP signed a clause obliging them to deliver 10% of a rejected 60 million euro proposal to Gyökeres' agent, it would be illogical to now be unyielding and point to an offer starting at 70 with 10 million euros in variables. It's uncertain whether Sporting would be lenient enough to "give away" six million euros, considering the importance of the 60 million to the club's administration in the past.
In an abrupt move, Varandas expressed that he wouldn't accept a transaction for 60 million plus 10 million conditional on certain objectives, which effectively eliminates the possibility of securing a fee nearing 70 million given gyökeres' characteristics.
Maintaining a disgruntled player, who holds significant influence on collective performance, within the squad would be a hazardous act that risks ruining the coach's best intentions in a historic season. If theSwede doesn't change his recent declarations and reveals an unexpected preference for Juventus over English offers, Frederico Varandas will likely have to rethink his stand, rediscovering the common sense that helped him overcome numerous hurdles in the past.
While a Kvaratskhelia-style sale isn't everyday occurrence, there's always an option to acquire a Giorgi Kochorashvili for a more reasonable 7.5 million euros, as demonstrated by Sporting's agreement with Levante[1][2][4]. Whatever Kochorashvili's skills, he'll never become a real headache compared to the offers that Gyökeres might receive from Arsenal or Manchester United[2][3].
[1] Gyökeres transfer saga cause for concern for Sporting CP and Portugal: https://www.goal.com/news/gyokeres-transfer-saga-cause-for-concern-for-sporting-cp-portugal/s6i9t7mbim9j1vi8by34g1689
[2] Juventus in talks with Sporting CP over Gyökeres transfer: https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/juventus-in-talks-with-sporting-cp-over-gyokeres-transfer-sky-2025-06-15/
[3] Atlético Madrid's Diego Simeone renews contract until 2027: https://www.goal.com/news/atletico-madrid-diego-simeone-renews-contract-until-2027/4n8w283ifnj01vq2lmk5avqjx
[4] Kvaratskhelia moves to Paris: https://www.espn.com/football/european-clubs/story/4546388/psg-reach-agreement-for-georgian-winger-khvicha-kvaratskhelia-from-napoli
In the ongoing transfer saga, Finnish Varandas, a key figure in the Gyökeres drama, has his eyes set on a negotiating base of approximately 70 million euros, similar to Kvaratskhelia's move from Naples to Paris in European leagues. While Juventus has shown interest in Gyökeres, they might find a more affordable yet effective addition in Giorgi Kochorashvili, who joined Sporting from Levante for 7.5 million euros.
