Before joining Sporting CP, Viktor Gyökeres could have joined Olympique Lyonnais. However, he did not catch the eye of Bruno Cheyrou at the time.
This is information that risks making Olympique Lyonnais supporters bristle. At a time when the Gones were more than behind in the league, they would have needed a scorer of the caliber of Viktor Gyökeres. In the summer of 2023, as the Lyon club prepares to experience its first season in the hands of John Textor, the new strong man launches the big maneuvers. Nearly 80 million euros are spent to recruit young players with high potential. However, the mayonnaise did not take hold and OL flirted with relegation for several months. A situation which could perhaps have been avoided if Bruno Cheyrou had not refused to follow up on the Viktor Gyökeres case.
Viktor Gyökeres, Bruno Cheyrou a dit non
Viktor Gyökeres today makes the biggest European clubs dream thanks to extraordinary statistics. Author of 33 goals and 7 assists in 27 matches played, including selection, the Swedish goleador could have had a completely different trajectory. Before signing with Sporting CP in the summer of 2023 for the sum of 24 million euros, the one who was still playing in Coventry did not come far from signing up for Olympique Lyonnais. Seeing the player's rating increase, his club decides to offer him to European clubs. Bruno Cheyrou, then head of recruitment for Gones, thus received the Viktor Gyökeres file in his hands, indicates Foot Mercato.
The player not having caught his eye at all, he ended up simply failing the file. At that time, the Swedish striker was valued at 15 million euros. A price well within OL's range. Today, there is reason to regret. Since his departure from Coventry and his adventure in Portugal, Viktor Gyökeres has been like a fish in water. Author of 67 goals and 19 assists in 71 matches played with the Sporting CP jersey, the new football star is now valued at 70 million euros and all the biggest European clubs are snapping up his name. At this financial level, Lyon is no longer concerned.
