Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has sent a friendly but firm warning to his former star striker, Viktor Gyökeres, ahead of the Swede’s official Arsenal debut against his old boss in the Premier League season opener on Sunday.
Gyökeres was incredibly prolific under Amorim’s tutelage at Sporting CP, netting a remarkable 66 goals in 68 games. This sensational form convinced Arsenal to pay a huge fee of up to £63.4 million to bring the forward to the Emirates Stadium this summer.
While full of praise for his former player, describing him as “a very good player,” Amorim cautioned that repeating that level of success in England will be a significant challenge. “Viktor is in a different league,” the United boss stated in his pre-match press conference, highlighting the considerable step up in quality from the Portuguese top flight to the Premier League.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, however, has no such concerns about his new signing’s suitability. He insisted that the Gunners are the “perfect stage” for their new number nine to showcase his talents and thrive. “We’re extremely happy that it’s Victor,” Arteta said, confirming that the club made a conscious decision to pivot away from other targets to sign him.
Sunday’s game could see Gyökeres line up opposite a player Arsenal also considered signing this summer: United’s new striker, Benjamin Šeško. After Arsenal focused their efforts on Gyökeres, United swooped in to sign the Slovenian, adding another layer of intrigue to this blockbuster opening-day clash.
The stage is set for a fascinating reunion at Old Trafford. While Ruben Amorim is well aware of the “tremendous impact” Gyökeres can have on a game, his warning has added extra spice to what is already one of the most anticipated fixtures of the new Premier League season.