Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has warned his former player Viktor Gyokeres of the increased physicality he will face in the Premier League.
United boss set to face former Sporting playerEmphasised difference between English and Portuguese leaguesSesko ready to start for Red Devils against GunnersFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Gyokeres fired Amorim's Sporting CP to the Portuguese title in 2023-24 and then scored 39 league goals last season as his side retained their crown. United were linked with the Sweden striker due to his previous relationship with Amorim but he chose to join Arsenal for £63.5m. And he will come up against his former boss on Sunday when Arsenal visit United on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Gyokeres struggled to catch fire in his first stint in English football after joining Brighton & Hove Albion's academy but he had more success at Coventry in the Championship, moving to Sporting in the summer of 2023 on the back of scoring 21 goals in the Championship. Amorim made it clear that Gyokeres will have to adapt to the increased physicality in the Premier League.
WHAT AMORIM SAID
"It is a different league, the physicality is different," Amorim told a press conference. "In Sporting they have a very good group of scouts because they live from that, he is a very good player, he is going to give different characteristics. It is going be different if we sign Viktor or [Kai] Havertz but it is not a surprise to see Viktor in a big club."
DID YOU KNOW?
Arsenal were heavily linked with new United striker Benjamin Sesko before they completed the deal for Gyokeres, with the Gunners' new sporting director Andrea Berta credited with them changing course.