The Striker Who Went on Strike to Join Arsenal Now Wants Out

Viktor Gyökeres refused to train to force his move to Arsenal barely a year ago. He's now reportedly offering himself to Barcelona instead. The tactics haven't changed. Only the direction has.

How He Forced His Way In

Gyökeres went on strike at Sporting CP, refusing pre-season training entirely in an attempt to force the club to honour what he considered a gentleman's agreement over his exit, one Sporting's president Frederico Varandas publicly insisted never existed. He was docked his entire salary for July over the protest, accepting a €350,000 fine once the two clubs finally reached agreement. Sporting's president publicly accused his agent of attempting to "blackmail" the club. Gyökeres missed 13 total days of training during the standoff. At one point, a photo surfaced of him holidaying in Mallorca instead, which reportedly left Varandas "seething" and directly triggered the size of the fine. This wasn't quiet politicking behind closed doors — it was open, public warfare, and his own agent even waived a reported £6m fee to help bridge the valuation gap between the two clubs.

What the Move Was Supposed to Deliver

Arsenal billed him as the missing piece for a 22-year Premier League title wait. He arrived off 97 goals in 102 games across two seasons in Portugal, joining for a £55m guaranteed fee plus £8.7m in potential add-ons, a deal that could rise to roughly £64m in total and stood as Sporting's biggest-ever sale. Arteta spoke of a player walking in with genuine star aura. Fans in Singapore and Hong Kong queued up mimicking his trademark goal celebration before he'd even played, part of Arsenal's pre-season tour where he was unveiled to supporters despite barely training beforehand due to the drawn-out Sporting standoff. Expectations were about as high as they could realistically get.

What Actually Happened Once He Arrived

Arsenal did go on to win the title that season regardless, ending a 22-year wait and claiming their first championship since the Invincibles campaign of 2003-04. Gyökeres finished his debut season with 21 goals across 55 appearances in all competitions, including 14 in the league, becoming the club's top scorer. Yet perception around him shifted noticeably over time despite those numbers. He's increasingly been viewed as a "streaky poacher" rather than a genuine system-transformer, with midfielder Mikel Merino's ability to fill a false-nine role at times drawing more consistent praise for its all-round contribution. Kai Havertz has often been preferred ahead of him in big matches. Arteta has reportedly eyed further attacking upgrades, including names like Osimhen, Alvarez and Kenan Yildiz, precisely the kind of pursuit that would squeeze Gyökeres's game time further.

The New Exit Push, Barely a Year Later

Reports now suggest Gyökeres has offered himself to Barcelona amid growing uncertainty over his role, with his representatives reportedly pushing for a meeting with Barcelona sporting director Deco. Barcelona hadn't previously considered him an option, focused instead on a move for Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, but Gyökeres's own desire to leave has reportedly made the situation more "active" on their end as that primary target continues to look unattainable. That's a startling turnaround for a player who fought this hard to arrive. The same restlessness that got him to Arsenal now appears aimed at leaving. Whether Arsenal even want to sell remains genuinely unclear at this stage, particularly with the club still searching for a further attacking option of their own.

What This Actually Says About Modern Transfer Warfare

Players willing to burn bridges once tend to repeat that pattern later. Gyökeres proved decisively he'll fight publicly when unhappy with his situation, and the specific mechanics haven't changed much: an agent working the phones, reports leaking through friendly outlets, and a player positioning himself as available before any club has formally bid. Clubs signing players who forced their way in should probably expect similar leverage eventually. The very trait that got him to Arsenal may now be working against staying there.

The Verdict

Forcing a transfer doesn't guarantee contentment once you've actually arrived somewhere. It mainly proves you're capable of forcing the next one too. Gyökeres wanted Arsenal badly enough to sacrifice a month's wages for it. A year later, wanting out again, after winning the title he was specifically brought in to deliver, suggests satisfaction was never really guaranteed by arrival alone.