Former Sporting CP star Cristiano Ronaldo is confident of ex-Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres’ quality. The Swedish striker, who scored more than 50 goals for the Portuguese side last term, has been hailed by Ronaldo as a “special” footballer.
Gyokeres played under Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim in Portugal, and there had been suggestions he would follow Ronaldo’s path by leaving the Lisbon club for a move to Old Trafford. Instead, he has chosen Arsenal and will line up against United this weekend.
Ronaldo was up against Portuguese opposition in pre-season, scoring a hat-trick as Al-Nassr beat Rio Ave 4-0. After the game, he was asked about his former club’s hopes of defending their title, and suggested the loss of Gyokeres will be keenly felt.
“I hope it’s a competitive league. I always hope for the best and that Sporting can be champions again,” Ronaldo said, per Goal. “Gyokeres? We only miss those who are there, that’s what they say. I believe Sporting will be competitive.
“Gyokeres 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 saw the Super Cup; Sporting performed well against Benfica, but they didn’t win because they couldn’t—that’s football.”
Gyokeres made his first Arsenal appearance during the club’s pre-season tour, in a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. He also drew a blank in a 3-2 defeat to Villarreal, but opened his Gunners account as they beat Athletic Club over the weekend.
Arsenal won that game 3-0, ensuring they go into their league opener against United on a high. After the game, manager Mikel Arteta was asked about Gyokeres and what he can bring to the table this term.
That’s his nature,” Arteta said when asked about Gyokeres’ desire to score. “I think everything that he does, his movement, the way he times his runs, the way he predicts the next move and where the space can be and where the ball is going to land, that’s the instinct that he has, that’s why he’s scored so many goals in the last few seasons so that’s not a coincidence, it’s his ability and he’s constantly looking for it.
“I think his goals, his threat, I think he pins both centre backs, he’s a player that when you’re living with a space, one against one, he’s going to destroy you,” Arteta added when asked about the striker’s qualities. “So he’s going to create a lot of space as well for us and yeah, the moment that in any situation there is a player there that can score a goal.”
