Rio Ferdinand Doubts Gyökeres is Right for Manchester United: “Arsenal Makes More Sense”
United legend gives honest take on Sporting striker amid stalled Arsenal transfer
As Arsenal and Sporting CP continue to negotiate over Viktor Gyökeres, former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand shared his view on the Swedish striker’s potential move and made it clear that he doesn’t see him as the right fit for the Red Devils.
“Not the guy for Manchester United”
Speaking on his FIVE YouTube podcast, Ferdinand addressed the swirling rumors linking Gyökeres to Arsenal, and also touched on past speculation about the striker joining Manchester United.
“Let me be clear. We’re not saying Viktor Gyökeres isn’t good enough for the Premier League. We’re talking about him not being the right fit for Manchester United,” said Ferdinand.
The former defender added that United needs a different type of forward ideally, one with more experience at the top level:
“He’s scoring a lot and doing really well in Portugal. But in my view, United needs something different.”
“Better for Arsenal than United”
Ferdinand did not deny Gyökeres’ talent in fact, he praised the striker’s numbers at Sporting, where he scored 43 goals in 50 games last season.
But when it comes to Premier League destinations, Ferdinand sees a better fit at the Emirates:
“Can he go to Arsenal and succeed? Yes. Can he score goals there? Absolutely. I just think he suits Arsenal more than United that’s my honest opinion.”
Arsenal’s Deal with Sporting Hits a Snag
Despite being close to finalizing the move, Arsenal’s pursuit of Gyökeres has hit a major roadblock. According to Record and A Bola, Sporting rejected the current bonus structure offered by the Gunners.
Here’s the current status of the deal:
- Fixed fee: €63.5 million
- Bonuses: €10 million
- Sporting’s issue: Only €3 million of those bonuses are considered “easily achievable.”
The Lisbon club is now holding firm, demanding more favorable terms or the deal could collapse entirely, as Arsenal appears unwilling to adjust its proposal.
🚨🗣️ Rio Ferdinand:
“For me Viktor Gyokeres is not the guy for Manchester United.”#MUFC [@FIVEUK, @CurveOnX]pic.twitter.com/wtLdZYQm2B
— UtdXclusive (@UtdXclusive) June 10, 2025
