Viktor Gyokeres' comments speak volumes after he went on strike and was fined month's wages

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres demonstrated his class by expressing gratitude to Sporting CP for an unforgettable final campaign at the club. That's despite the fact he was hit with a £306,000 fine on his way out of the exit.

The former Brighton and Coventry forward made his way back to England in July after the Gunners struck an agreement to sign him for an initial £55million. But he did so under a cloud despite his heroic figures in the Portuguese capital.

Mikel Arteta's side secured their target after Gyokeres took drastic measures to force through the transfer. This involved essentially downing tools by failing to report for Sporting's pre-season training, which led to him losing his wages for July.

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However, Gyokeres looked past any bad blood to express his appreciation to Sporting and their supporters after being crowned the Primeira Liga's 2024/25 Player of the Year on Wednesday. He claimed the Golden Boot in Portugal's top tier for the second straight season to help retain the league crown, also contributing to the Lions' triumph in the Taca de Portugal final.

"I am really honoured to receive this amazing award," said the Swede in his video address to the fans and his former club (via The Mirror). "Unfortunately, I cannot be there in person to receive it, but I would like to thank the players, the staff, everyone at the club and the Sporting fans who made this possible with their support during the season.

"It was an unforgettable season, we won both the Primeira Liga and the cup. Thank you all, and congratulations to the other nominees and winners. Thank you to those who voted for me. I love you all."

Gyokeres netted 97 goals across 102 outings for Sporting, bagging 54 of those strikes in just 52 matches during his final campaign. He also contributed 14 assists across all tournaments last season and has already opened his account for Arsenal with a double against Leeds in August.

It demonstrates the player's integrity that, despite a turbulent departure from Sporting, he chose to concentrate on the positive achievements they shared together. One can appreciate why, considering Gyokeres transformed his career path in Portugal, evolving from a Championship-calibre forward into one of Europe's most sought-after assets.

One of Gyokeres' agents, Jonathan Chalkias, collaborates with Hasan Cetinkaya to manage the striker's business matters. And he claimed Sporting's former director, Hugo Viana - who departed the club to join Manchester City in June - had struck a deal with Gyokeres to approve his move to Arsenal, only for that agreement to become complicated following Viana's departure.

"It was a mess. There was a gentleman's agreement with the previous sporting director," he told Swedish broadcaster WTV. "If Hugo Viana were still at Sporting, the deal would have been done in an hour. Everything was written; we didn't have time to start a legal battle.

"I don't understand how a player who scored so many goals and won three trophies didn't deserve more respect. The sacrifices we made were the turning point for the deal to happen. They offered Gyokeres to Real Madrid, they even made headlines with Man United, but there was a commitment with Arsenal."

Consequently, Gyokeres will be viewed by some as having departed Lisbon with a tarnished reputation following his push for a move away. The club retaliated by imposing a financial penalty on their former marksman, yet the player showed his character by rising above the situation to display his quality in one final farewell.