Arsenal -fans are convinced that they know everything about Viktor Gyokeres -the Sporting Lisbon Superstar who is strongly connected this summer with a relocation of £ 60 million to North Londs.
But in a rare, in-depth interview with Vogue Scandinavia this week, the Swedish target score machine dropped his mask and revealed a number of interesting titbits behind the scenes.
His house in Lisbon – in the quiet enclave of Charneca de Caparica – is described as a “hollow”, a “Scandinavian minimalism”, with glass walls and a back garden swimming pool.
The most important decoration of the ground floor includes countless trophies under a large black -white photo of Gyokeres that performs his famous “Bane Mask” celebration.
He explained: “Me and my friends went on vacation, and we were talking about it [what to do when I score]. One of them came up with the idea for the mask, and we all liked it.
“Since then I have always done it when I score … and it is certainly held. As far as the [Bane] Character, I have of course seen it. But it's a bit like, take it how you want it.
“If you think it's bane, you can think so. If you think it's something else, that's fine too.”
His daily routine includes making a shot ginger and some water, and his breakfast is usually a range of fruit [strawberries, blueberries and pomegranates] And three eggs.
Gyokeres also admits that he sets his alarm “10-15 minutes before I leave” because he appreciates sleep.
In terms of how he built himself into the monstrous Nr .9, he is today, compared to the skinny child struggling in Brighton before he hit in goals in Coventry, he said: “Physicality is a large part of my game. I always have to maintain it and get better and better.
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“I do my pull-ups, push-ups and sometimes shoulder press. Sometimes after a game where I have to let my legs rest. I can concentrate on the upper body.
“I can do my exercises at home, that's why I have a gym here. That's what I like every day.”
At home from the training at 4 p.m., he likes to keep napping for an hour before he has a Portuguese speaking lesson or decreases his thoughts from football by playing some duty.
To let his hair go down, he goes out to eat in Lisbon. He explained: “With Swedish culture I think people work hard during the week, and if they want to do something, they do it at the weekend.
“People also enjoy the weekdays here. They see their friends on a Monday or whatever day, food, a glass of wine. In Sweden that is rare. That is the big difference.”
Although his expectations leave Portugal for England in the coming weeks, with the Gunners in pole position, he does suggest: “I think Lisbon should be one of the best cities in Europe … it feels like home.”
And the intention to give nothing about his future, he added about the speculation: “That's just clickbait. Sport news is now constant, like 24/7, so they just find things to talk about.”
However, he suggests that he has always “dreamed” of “being in the best teams in the world,” even if he reveals that as a child it took him time to fall in love with football.
He said: “I didn't like football at first [as a six-year-old] Because I was in a team with people I didn't know. I was new and I was not at ease there.
“It was more the social aspect that was difficult than football itself.
“Of course, if you are younger – 10, 11, 12 – you always talk to your friends about playing for this club or that club, you dream of being in the best teams in the world.
“But that was all talked. Of course you want to do it, but at that age you don't really think about it. It is more of a dream.
He added: “Playing football for people – it's just something I am so focused on. Of course you sometimes think about it, but it is easy for me.”
In the meantime, he has withdrawn from the upcoming matches of Sweden against Hungary and Algeria because of a “small issue”, in which many merge two and two, suspect that it has to do with a future move.
But Sweden Baas Jon Dahl Tomasson claimed: “I spoke with Viktor last week. He has not trained much in recent weeks and has struggled with a small injury.
“I was happy to just see him and involve him in our meetings. That says a lot about Viktor, how much he wants to be involved.”
Zubimendi Watch
There was a rare look in the future on Thursday evening and looked at a current Arsenal -midfielder who played next to a future.
In the dramatic 5-4 Nations League semi-final victory of Spain in France in France, Mikel Merino stood in line next to Martin Zubimendi-Die is expected to be officially announced as a gunners after his £ 51 million step from Real Sociedad at a certain point next week.
Merino – who arrived in North Londs last summer from Sociedad for about £ 32 million – played as number 8 on the left side of midfield three, while Zubimendi was deep like a no. 6.
It was an intriguing watch that gave several examples of exactly how the two can compliment each other in an arsenal shirt next season.
For large parts, Zubimendi, 26, was deep in front of the back four, happy to be under pressure with his back to the opposition, to take balls of the two middle backs in turn and feed the will of Merino and Barcelona midfielder Pedri.
Within the first few minutes, Zubimendi did exactly that for Merino, so that he could drive to space and cause an attack, something that Declan Rice will keep in that role.
And when the ball was lost, with Merino that caused the press, Zubimendi would not be far behind him, not afraid to put his body at stake to break up the game.
He did exactly that in the first half to leave Les Bleus star Kylian Mbappe on his back.
The Spanish media wrote: “When Merino promoted his position and Pedri approached him, that is when [Zubimendi] put forward his full potential.
“The midfielder is in a thankless position because he has to switch off the dirty balls so that the one that passes close to him can take the clean balls. But he does that very well.”
But it is not just the dirty work that Zubimendi thrives into. Sometimes he would turn around against France and immediately go by ping balls in the broad areas for people like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams – the latter another arsenal target.
You couldn't help it, but imagine that Zubimendi does the same for Bukayo Saka on the right, something that loves the wing of England: early steps to get the full-backs of opposition overrumed.
Kepa or Garcia?
Among other things, areas in the team, Mikel Arteta has a big decision to make about his number 2.
With Neto Back to Bournemouth after his seasonal loan previous term, only one appearance appears, Arsenal a backup needs a backup for David Raya.
There are candidates from the inside: the 16-year-old Jack Porter and 18-year-old Tommy Setford both made their senior debut in the Carabao Cup last season.
However, Arteta does not believe that both are ready to take such great responsibility, while Setford could possibly go on loan to gain some experience if the right opportunity occurs, after he became Ajax for £ 1 million in July 2024.
It is understood that Setford is highly appreciated by Arteta and sees him as a first team player of the future.
So where does she leave behind? It is quite similar to their striker conundrum, who is currently deliberating or they go for a ready-made, older gyokeres, or pay more money to gain a younger star with potential that can grow in Benjamin Sesko, 21.
There are two options as it looks now: first there is Joan Garcia, the £ 25 million Espanyol keeper, but it will be a struggle to sign the 24-year-old with Barcelona who pushes hard to get him.
And then there is a new possibility of Kepa, 30 -the unwanted Chelsea -keeper who is said to have a release clause of £ 5 million that has spent on loan in the cherries last season.
Arteta would welcome such an experienced keeper to compete with Raya, and is supposed to have always admired the Spaniard from far because of his ability to play with his feet.
Gabriel and Saliba's anxiety factor
Brazilian center back Gabriel, 27, has finally signed a new long-term contract until 2029 after tires with a mega money switch to Saudi Arabia in the last 18 months.
Sunsport understands that there is no option to extend that until 2030 as it looks now, but he will now earn a weekly wage north of £ 100k.
It is the first of many new deals that Sport Director Andrea Berta has worked on. The will of Saka and William Saliba-Wiens Contracts also end in 2027 seals are the following, as well as graduates from Hale End Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Interestingly, Gabriel has revealed how feared he and his central back partner Saliba are in the prem and form a bond that has made them a world -class duo, perhaps the best in Europe.
He said: “I play now and then to some strikers and then they say:” You are so strong now, you and Saliba are so good together “and things like that, so it's good to hear.
“That is what we strive for on the field, we want to keep improving and we want to win trophies.”