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Gyokeres set for emotional reunion with Sporting fans
Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres will step back onto the pitch at Lisbon's Estádio José Alvalade on Tuesday, this time in an Arsenal shirt, as Sporting CP host the Premier League side in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. The encounter marks Gyokeres' first visit since his acrimonious €50 million departure last summer, a move that left Sporting fans divided over how to greet their former talisman.
A club transformed
Sporting's rise to this stage of Europe's elite competition is no fluke. Over the past five seasons, the Portuguese champions have secured three league titles, restored internal harmony after years of boardroom strife, and posted four consecutive annual profits, totalling €82.3 million. The club's financial turnaround and on-field success have been underpinned by shrewd recruitment, with Gyokeres serving as the poster boy for their strategy.
Signed from Coventry City in 2023, the striker scored 97 goals in 102 appearances, a strike rate surpassed in Portuguese football history only by legends Fernando Peyroteo, Eusébio, and Mário Jardel. "He was one of the best, if not the best, deals in our history," former Sporting player and Portugal international Ricardo Sá Pinto told BBC Sport. "Not just in footballing terms-where he was undeniably a top signing-but financially too. The recruitment team deserves huge credit for spotting the opportunity."
Fans split over hero's return
Gyokeres' exit was far from smooth. The 27-year-old refused to report for pre-season, missed training sessions, and stayed away from Lisbon until Arsenal finalised the transfer. "It was sad, but there was nothing I could have done differently," he later reflected. "It wasn't something I could control."
A recent poll by CNN Portugal and Mais Futebol revealed that half of Sporting's supporters believe Gyokeres should be applauded upon his return, acknowledging his pivotal role in their recent success. Club manager Rui Borges expressed confidence in a warm reception: "I'm sure he'll be welcomed by the fans. He left his mark on Sporting's history and deserves that recognition."
"He had the ambition to take the next step in his career, and we respected that,"
Rui Borges, Sporting CP manager
Sporting's scouting machine delivers again
Gyokeres is far from the only success story in Sporting's recent transfer dealings. The club has consistently replaced key departures without a dip in performance, thanks to astute signings like right-back Ivan Fresneda (Valladolid), winger Maxi Araújo (Toluca), and centre-back Ousmane Diomandé (Mafra). This ability to reload has kept Sporting competitive despite a widening financial gap.
Of the eight teams remaining in this season's Champions League, seven rank among the world's top 15 by revenue in the 2026 Deloitte Football Money League. Sporting are the sole outliers, not even featuring in the top 30. "In recent years, we've stabilised at board level, which was crucial," Sá Pinto noted. "Decision-making is now concentrated in a few hands, the dressing room is protected, and our relationship with the media is balanced. VAR has also helped level the playing field in Portuguese football."
Can Sporting make history again?
To advance to the semi-finals, Sporting must first silence Gyokeres-a tall order given his prolific record at the Estádio José Alvalade. "His impact was absolutely brutal," Sá Pinto said. "With all due respect to other players, Sporting wouldn't have been the same without him over the past two years."
Sá Pinto, who reached European semi-finals with Sporting as both a player (2004-05 UEFA Cup) and coach (2011-12 Europa League), knows what it takes to upset the odds. "We knocked out Manchester City under Roberto Mancini-a team dubbed the €500 million squad. We won 1-0 at home and lost 3-2 away, but we went through. That's the mentality we need: belief, tactical strength, mental resilience, and total commitment."
As Gyokeres prepares to face his former club, the stage is set for a night of high drama in Lisbon. Whether the home crowd greets him with cheers or jeers, one thing is certain: Sporting's fairytale season is far from over.
