1. Dimitri Payet – “West Ham? I’m Outta Here!”
In January 2017, Payet decided he had enough of London life and wanted to return to Marseille. West Ham said no. So what did Payet do? He refused to play. Slaven Bilić, then Hammers boss, looked like a man who’d just found out his best mate was ghosting him.
Eventually, West Ham caved, Payet returned to Marseille, and fans burned his shirt in rage. Literally. On camera. In East London, that’s equivalent to exile.
2. Ousmane Dembélé – The Disappearing Act at Dortmund
Dembélé wanted Barcelona. Dortmund wanted him to stay. Solution? Go missing.
In 2017, Dembélé just stopped turning up to training. Dortmund officials were left calling his phone like an anxious parent. He was eventually found chilling in France, waiting for the deal to go through. Spoiler: it did. For €105 million. Moral of the story? If you're good enough, you can vanish for a week and still get a move.
3. Gareth Bale – From Golf to Galactico
In 2013, Bale wanted Real Madrid so badly that he reportedly refused to play for Spurs during the final days of the transfer window. Daniel Levy, not exactly known for being Mr. Flexible, held firm for as long as he could. But once Madrid came in with the right number (and a helicopter), Bale was off to Spain, hair flowing in the wind, leaving a trail of physio tape behind him.
Ironically, years later, Bale did the same thing at Madrid—this time trying to leave. But with a twist: instead of refusing to play, he just played golf.
4. Cesc Fàbregas – Arsenal, Barca, and That Shirt Pull
Fàbregas always dreamed of returning to Barcelona. But in 2010, Arsenal weren’t budging. So what did his Spain teammates do at the World Cup celebrations? They forced a Barcelona shirt over his head during the trophy lift like it was a hostage situation.
Arsenal fans were fuming, but the message was clear: Cesc wanted out. A year later, the move finally happened. Shirt gate, complete.
5. Philippe Coutinho – The Mysterious Back Injury
Ah yes, the classic “back injury.” In 2017, Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho developed one just as Barcelona came knocking. Klopp insisted he was staying. Coutinho insisted he was in too much pain to train… but somehow well enough to post beach pics on Instagram.
Eventually, Liverpool got £142 million and no one asked about the back ever again.
So, What About Gyökeres?
The Sporting frontman is simply following a well-trodden path. Want a move? Throw a strop, miss a few sessions, leak a few things to the press, and let the agents do their thing. Sporting president Varandas is standing firm, but history tells us this movie doesn’t end with the player staying put.
It ends with a goodbye post on Instagram, a “new chapter” caption, and maybe—if they’re lucky—a new car from the signing bonus.
