Viktor Gyokeres has distanced himself from rumours he could be set to follow Ruben Amorim to Manchester United, insisting he is still ‘enjoying’ his time at Sporting.
The 26-year-old has established himself as one of the most sought-after attacking players in European football over the last two seasons and an eye-catching performance in Sporting’s 5-1 win over Estrela did little to quieten the speculation.
It was an emotional evening at Sporting’s Jose Alvalade Stadium, with kick-off coming just hours after United’s official confirmation of Amorim’s appointment as their new manager.
Gyokeres, who has also been linked with Arsenal and Chelsea, completed a sensational first-half hat-trick on the night and with 20 minutes remaining, the Swede added a fourth to pile yet more misery on visitors Estrela.
In the wake of Gyokeres’ stunning brace in Sporting’s previous victory over Nacional, United supporters were completely won over and began calling for the attacker to follow in his manager’s footsteps to Old Trafford.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand is among Gyokeres’ many admirers and called on the Red Devils to ‘break the bank’ for the striker, even if it raises doubts over Rasmus Hojlund’s future at the Theatre of Dreams.
‘Going with Amorim to Manchester United? I don’t know,’ Gyokeres replied when asked about the possibility of joining Amorim following his man-of-the-match display against Estrela.
‘I’m here. As you can see, I enjoy it at Sporting.
‘It’s nothing I really think about. I’m sad about him [Amorim] leaving. We wish him all the best.’
Recent reports indicated Gyokeres could be free to leave Sporting for a fee of between £50-58million ahead in the January transfer window.
Facing the media after Sporting’s defeat of Estrela, Amorim revealed that United turned down his request to wait until next summer to take charge at Old Trafford.
‘The only thing I asked of Manchester United was to leave at the end of the season. I spent three days asking, it was what I wanted,’ Amorim told reporters at his post-match press conference.
‘They said it wasn’t possible, I was told it was either now or never, so I had to make a decision. If I didn’t accept, they would look for another option. So I had three days to make my mind up about a decision that changes my life radically. That’s what I did.
‘I’ve had other opportunities, the president can confirm this, this is not the first or second time that I have been requested by another team and I don’t want another team. After Sporting I wanted that one: Manchester United.’
Amorim went on: ‘There is no Sporting supporter who wanted me to stay until the end of the season more than I did. But it wasn’t possible.
‘Some people say it’s for money. It’s not.
‘Other clubs were prepared to pay three times more and I refused. This is the club [United] that I wanted.’
Amorim confirmed he will be joined at the Theatre of Dreams by his own team, adding: ‘I’m going to take my coaching staff with me. We’ve been together since Casa Pia. It was one of the conditions.’
He continued: ‘At start of the season I talked to the Sporting president and said that whatever happened it would be my last season at Sporting.
‘The season started very well, then Manchester United appeared and paid the clause. I never argued with the president.’
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