Ronaldo Calls Gyokeres 'Special' After Arsenal's £55m Move

Arsenal Cristiano Ronaldo shows true colours with response to 'special' Arsenal transfer The latest Arsenal news includes comments from Cristiano Ronaldo on Viktor Gyokeres' exit from Sporting CP footballlondon Bookmark Share Comments Arsenal By Bruna Reis 16:30, 12 AUG 2025 Bookmark Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo (Image: Gualter Fatia/Getty Images) Sign up to the free Arsenal newsletter so you don't miss the latest Gunners news, straight to your inbox More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Sign up to the free Arsenal newsletter so you don't miss the latest Gunners news, straight to your inbox Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice Cristiano Ronaldo has made his feelings clear on Viktor Gyokeres exit from his beloved Sporting Clube de Portugal to join Arsenal. Gyokeres' completed the move to the Emirates Stadium at the end of July, ending a prolonged hunt for an elite centre-forward. The deal is worth an initial £55million and could potentially rise to £63.5m . Sporting’s statement at the time, confirming his exit, read: "The financial consideration for the transfer of the Player [Gyokeres] to be paid by Arsenal FC to Sporting SAD corresponds to €76,020,513.00, which comprises the sum of (i) a fixed portion of €65,764,103.00 and (ii) a variable portion that may rise to a maximum value of €10,256,410.00, depending on the achievement of certain objectives related to the sporting performance of the Player and Arsenal FC." That said, the striker left his former club on a sour note after going on strike and remaining in Sweden while waiting for updates on the transfer, causing him to miss the start of Sporting's pre-season . Cristiano Ronaldo has praised Gyokeres as a 'special' player (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images) Reports from Portugal also suggested he felt Sporting president Frederico Varandas reneged on a deal to let him leave for €60 million (£52m) plus €10 million (£8m) in add-ons - a fee Arsenal had previously surpassed. Upon completing the move, he reflected on his departure from the Portuguese giants, admitting he experienced ups and downs and describing the last month as 'difficult.' This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Sky Sports deal Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more. Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more. £35 Sky Get Sky Sports here Ronaldo , who featured for Al Nassr and scored a hat-trick in a friendly against Rio Ave in the Algarve last week, was asked about Gyokeres' departure from Estadio Jose Alvalade. "Gyokeres? We only miss those who are there, that's what they say," he told reporters. "I believe Sporting will be competitive. He was a special player, but the team will have to adapt. "I believe [Luis] Suarez, who arrived from Almeria, is an excellent forward. [Conrad] Harder is also a good player, young, and needs time. "I watched the Super Cup; Sporting performed well against Benfica, but they didn't win because they couldn't - that's football." --- KICK OFF - Arsenal F.C. pre-season guide 2025/26 The countdown is on to the 2025/26 Premier League campaign - and our pre-season guide is the ideal way to prepare for the action ahead. As well as in-depth analysis and opinion on your club, we turn the spotlight on every team battling for top-flight glory - or simply survival in the toughest league in the world! Also full fixtures guide so you don't miss a game in what is set to be a thrilling season. Get your copy NOW Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Football London Facebook X (Twitter) Comment More On Cristiano Ronaldo Arsenal Arsenal transfer news Viktor Gyokeres

Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo (Image: Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo has made his feelings clear on Viktor Gyokeres exit from his beloved Sporting Clube de Portugal to join Arsenal.

Gyokeres' completed the move to the Emirates Stadium at the end of July, ending a prolonged hunt for an elite centre-forward. The deal is worth an initial £55million and could potentially rise to £63.5m .

Sporting’s statement at the time, confirming his exit, read: "The financial consideration for the transfer of the Player [Gyokeres] to be paid by Arsenal FC to Sporting SAD corresponds to €76,020,513.00, which comprises the sum of (i) a fixed portion of €65,764,103.00 and (ii) a variable portion that may rise to a maximum value of €10,256,410.00, depending on the achievement of certain objectives related to the sporting performance of the Player and Arsenal FC."

That said, the striker left his former club on a sour note after going on strike and remaining in Sweden while waiting for updates on the transfer, causing him to miss the start of Sporting's pre-season .

Cristiano Ronaldo has praised Gyokeres as a 'special' player (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Reports from Portugal also suggested he felt Sporting president Frederico Varandas reneged on a deal to let him leave for €60 million (£52m) plus €10 million (£8m) in add-ons - a fee Arsenal had previously surpassed.

Upon completing the move, he reflected on his departure from the Portuguese giants, admitting he experienced ups and downs and describing the last month as 'difficult.'

Ronaldo , who featured for Al Nassr and scored a hat-trick in a friendly against Rio Ave in the Algarve last week, was asked about Gyokeres' departure from Estadio Jose Alvalade.

"Gyokeres? We only miss those who are there, that's what they say," he told reporters.

"I believe Sporting will be competitive. He was a special player, but the team will have to adapt.

"I believe [Luis] Suarez, who arrived from Almeria, is an excellent forward. [Conrad] Harder is also a good player, young, and needs time.

"I watched the Super Cup; Sporting performed well against Benfica, but they didn't win because they couldn't - that's football."

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